1. In-conduit Hydropower: Public Sector meets Private Inventions
08/25/10
In-conduit Hydropower: Public Sector meets Private Inventions
Matt Swindle, CEO, NLine Energy
for
Three Valleys Municipal Water District
Urban Water Institute
Palm Springs, CA

2. Agenda About TVMWD Existing Hydropower Unit and Operations
Opportunity for New Hydropower Development
TVMWD Partnership with NLine Energy
About NLine Energy

3. About TVMWD
Wholesale, municipal water agency formed in located in Claremont, CA serving 13 retail water agencies with a population of 525,000
Supplement and enhance local water supplies ~70,000 AF/Year
Surface water treatment plant – 25 mgd capacity (~20,000 AF/year)
Hydroelectric Facilities - 4,000,000 kWh/year

4. Miramar Hydro Station

5. Miramar Hydro Station Commissioned in 1987
535 kW hydro station under Qualifying Facilities (QF) agreement with SCE
Power offsets onsite electrical use
Flow provided by the MWD Rialto Feeder – variable pressure & flow
Operates mainly in winter (min. pressure = 60 psi)

6. Opportunity for New Hydro Development
Hydraulic grade changes in MWD feeder over time
Significant bypass flows during “prime” summer months ($value of energy: summer vs. winter)
Decreased power generated at Miramar hydro due to lower operating pressures in MWD feeder
Loss of revenue when large hydro unable to operate
Problem statement – “Is it technically and financially feasible for TVMWD to capture bypass flows with new hydro unit(s)?”

7. Miramar: Pressure & Flow Analysis(2007)
08/25/10
Miramar: Pressure & Flow Analysis(2007)
Flow (cfs)
Pressure (psi)
Pmin = 60 psi
10 cfs
28 cfs
Existing Hydro Operation 7

8. TVMWD Partnership with NLine Energy
ACWA’s Small Hydro Approved Preferred Provider
Provided no-cost preliminary Feasibility Assessment (Jun. – Oct. 2011)
Tasked to perform more detailed analysis (Oct. 2011)
Two (2) pump-turbine units rated at combined 292-kW
Capture bypass flows
Offset new groundwater well pumping costs

9. Timeline
Board approved Development Services Agreement (DSA) with NLine using CA Code June 2012
Design complete – June 2013
SCE interconnection approved – October 2013
FERC conduit exemption issued – November 2013
SCE SGIP grant reservation – December 2013
Construction contract issued – December 2013

10. Project Attributes
Sized to meet current and future flows and pressures
Serves on-site load requirements through self-generation
Annual Generation ~ 580,000 kWh, Cost Estimate ~ $1.45M, Annual Revenue ~ $110k, Payback period ~15 yrs
~$100k required SCE interconnection upgrades
Opportunity to secure outside funding - Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) grant ($125,000)
Commissioning planned for July 2014

12. NLine Energy: Overview Small-hydro singular focus
08/25/10
Small-hydro singular focus
In-conduit (pipelines)
Conduit (canals)
Retrofit / Rehabilitate existing hydro
Small pumped hydro storage
California-based business
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Approved Preferred Small Hydro Provider
25 MW development pipeline

13. Questions?