Reclamation to add third hydro turbine to Idaho’s Black Canyon Dam

HydroWorld.com

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will add a third generating unit to the 10-MW Black Canyon Diversion Dam, potentially increasing the hydropower plant’s output capacity to 22.5 MW.

Reclamation said the additional generating unit will “take advantage of water that typically would go over the dam”, while also giving operation flexibility when one of the existing units is shut down for maintenance.

The project is expected to cost about US$53 million and will be funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).