Can run-of-river hydropower meet the needs of the north? A case analysis of the Albany River watershed

Abstract

This thesis explores the potential of the Albany River watershed in northern Ontario to provide run-of-river hydropower (RHP) and determines the feasibility of supplying 100% of a remote community’s needs with local hydropower. This research expands the knowledge of river energy potential and the use of small-scale RHP in northern Ontario, Canada to replace diesel fuel for electricity generation. A geographic information system (GIS) methodology for assessing hydropower potential over a vast geographic area under current and future climate-change scenarios is utilized. An assessment of the impacts of climate change on this watershed suggests annual streamflow increases of at least 15% into the next century, distributed unevenly across the seasons with winter and spring flow increases of +45.7% and +27.7%, respectively and summer and fall decreases of -38.0% and -5.2%, respectively. Hydropower resource development is further informed by small hydropower expert practitioner semi-structured interviews on recommended technologies to match the low-head hydropower potential within the catchment. Experts recommended the Kaplan-style turbine as a tried-and-true technology to exploit RHP on the Albany River and stressed a thorough understanding of the complexities of ice, snow and freezing conditions. Importantly, experts stressed the need for community participation and locally owned and operated renewable energy production to better address sustainability within these regions. Finally, a techno-economic assessment of a future all-season road crossing site on the upper Albany River was carried out using the RETScreen Expert small hydropower module and costs were compared with the literature and interview study feedback. Of 8 scenarios modeled, all configurations (head 5 m, 12m, 18 m) could match the estimated current community energy load, while only higher head (12 m, 18 m) configurations could meet the estimated future community load. The usefulness of this work is its adaptability to other Canadian and global remote communities interested in assessing small hydropower for local electricity generation in a sustainable energy transition – one that lowers the environmental impact and redistributes energy profits in the long term to the local level, making it an ongoing source of renewable energy revenues and cost savings to the remote community it serves.