PROJECT PROFILE: DUNCAN DAM
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World’s First VAHT Discharge Channel Pilot

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The Duncan Dam located near Kaslo, British Columbia is a reservoir with no hydroelectric production and a current velocity of approximately 2 m/s.

 

Collaborating with one of Canada’s largest electric utilities, BC Hydro, and their clean energy subsidiary, Powertech Labs, Instream deployed a prototype array of four 25kW turbines proving VAHT technology was an effective way to capture clean energy in a dam discharge channel or “tailrace.”

Pilot Objectives:
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  • Demonstrate VAHT technology as a viable technology in a dam tailrace setting

  • Collect and analyze turbine performance and waterway impact in single and multi-unit arrays

  • Test decommissioning strategies and plans to ensure no adverse impact to the environment

Pilot results:
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  • Successfully demonstrated VAHT technology

  • Successfully collected a large dataset used in the creation of a new BAE Systems rotor and array designs

  • Produced a third-party report providing insight into real-world operations of the technology; including decommissioning