Matt Swindle, CEO, NLine Energy for
Three Valleys Municipal Water District
Urban Water Institute
Palm Springs, CA

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

• Wholesale, municipal water agency formed in 1950 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
3

4

• 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)
5

• 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)?”
6

P min psi
= 60
Existing Hydro
Operation
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
45
Flow (cfs)

• 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
8

• Board approved Development Services Agreement
(DSA) with NLine using CA Code 4217 - 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
9

• 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
10

11

• 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
Copyright © NLine Energy, Inc. 2013

13