2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Hydropower Generation at Glen Canyo

• Key unit of CRSP• Maximum generating capacity

• 8 units

• 1,320 MW

• 5 billion KWh/year• Service area

• WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ, NV, NE

• 135 long‐term customers• 54 Native American Tribes (40%

of total)

• Offsets 2.5 million tons of CO2

emissions/year see Lynn Jeka’s AMWG presentation Aug 24‐25, 1

https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/amp/amwg/mtgs/16aug24
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

How has recent Experimentation (HFEs) at 

Canyon Dam affected Power Production?

• Water bypasses the power plant

• Water is moved from other months within the water year 

within annual release requirements

• Change in monthly water volume released through the po

• Electrical reserves must be moved to other CRSP facilities

see Jerry Wilhite’s presentation at the HFE workshophttp://gcdamp.com/images_gcdamp_com/f/f2/Wilhite_HFEwork
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meetingHydropower Cost =

Bypassed Water ($)

+

Water Moved from other

Months ($)

–

Additional Power Generation

during the HFE ($)

Financial Impact of an HFE
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

 ‐

50,000

100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000

24 48 72 96 144 192 

Bypassed Water Volume (af)

HFE Duration (hrs)

HFE Duration vs Bypassed Water

Hydropower Cost = $ (Bypass Water) + $ (Water Mov

other Months) ‐ $ (Power Generation during the HFE
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Hydropower Cost = $ (Bypass Water) + $ (Water Mov

other Months) ‐ $ (Power Generation during the HFE

75 kaf

55 kaf

$29.10 $31.82 $37.88
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Hydropower Cost = $ (Bypass Water) + $ (Water Mov

other Months) ‐ $ (Power Generation during the HFE)

• Substantial effort is

made to market the

additional power

produced during the

HFE, but...

• We typically have to sell

power generated in

excess of our

customers’ needs for

less than market value.
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Economic Impacts of Recent HFEs

• Nov. 2016 HFE

• Actual cost: TBD

• Estimated cost: $1.5 million

• Nov. 2014 HFE

• Actual cost: $2.1 million

• Estimated cost: $1.7 million

• Nov. 2013 HFE

• Actual cost: $2.6 million

• Estimated cost: $1.7 million

Hy

$ +$ 

fro–$ 

du
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Effect on hydropower production from

changes in Lake Powell elevations

Generating Efficiencies• Lower head reduces generating efficiency

• December 2016

• Lake Powell: 3600 ft

• Releases: 11,000 – 19,000 cfs

• Generation: 397 – 696 MW

• At full pool (3700 ft)

• Generation: 516 – 905 MW

• Even though WY17 is a 9.0 MAF release, there is a 30% reduction in

generating efficiency (acre feet into MWhs) with current reservoir elevations

• Increases firming costs
Hydropower Knowledge Assessment U

Resource Characteristics and Measures• Electric generation (energy)

• MWh generated/year

• Market Price/MWh generated/year

• Electric generation (capacity)

• Marketable MW/peak power month (Jul/Aug)

• Annual measure in capital investment in SLCA/IP market system ($)

• Load following capability

• Annual MW available above/below WAPA customer demand

• Emissions

• Changes in emissions to compensate for energy losses resulting from changes

in operations at Glen Canyon Dam (tons of CO2, SO2 and NOX emissions/year)

• Net firming purchases

• $/year

• Hydro‐mechanical equipment

• $/year (O/M and replacement)

2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

The Team• WAPA: C

Capron, 

Welker, 

• Reclama

Nick Wi

• GCMRC

• CREDA: • UAMPS

• SRP: Jen

• NTUA: A

• SEAHG c

• CRC‐Nev
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Emergency Energy Support

Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Facility• Depleted oil field used for underground storage of imported natural gas to fuel gas‐fired power plants in southern California

• Storage well leak discovered October 2015

• Leak contained February 2016

• Remaining wells have to be tested or capped before refilling the facility

• The facility is still off‐line

• Glen Canyon Dam was in line to be called up to provide

emergency back up power for southern California during

spring and summer 2016 but was never called on.

Provided an opportunity for WAPA and Reclamation to update emergency power operation protocols.
2017 GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting

Questions