195 MW of new hydro
power for British
Columbia at Forrest Kerr
The Forrest Kerr hydroelectric project,
located approximately 100 km
northwest of Stewart in northwestern
British Columbia, has been safely
commissioned and is producing
power …
Social impact assessment
for floating LNG project in
Australia
UPCOMING
CONFERENCES
Renewables & Mining Summit
Generate 2014
Ontario Waterpower Association
500 kV transmission development plan
for Fort McMurray area in Alberta
EPC[M] for Mining and Energy
Projects
CanWEA 2014
Energy efficiency for Inter-American
Development Bank
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
Technical Meeting on Small
Reactors
Solar Canada 2014
www.hatch.ca
195 MW of new hydro power for British Columbia
The Forrest Kerr hydroelectric project, located approximately 100 km northwest of Stewart in
northwestern British Columbia, has been safely commissioned and is producing power. Owned
and operated by AltaGas, the run-of-river facility will capture energy produced by the natural
flow and elevation drop of the Iskut River to produce clean, renewable power for BC Hydro’s
system via an interconnection at Bob Quinn Lake and the 287-kV Northwest Transmission Line.
The new Forrest Kerr hydroelectric facility is owned and operated by AltaGas. The project includes a 3.3 km
long power tunnel and nine Francis turbines that will deliver 980 GWh of clean power annually to BC
Hydro’s transmission system.
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
Over the last several years, Hatch completed a
number of feasibility and cost estimating studies to
assist the developer in defining the optimal size
and layout of the project. The final project
feasibility study was completed by Hatch in 2009—
this included resolution of several technical issues
as well as comprehensive capital and operating
cost estimates. This was done in accordance with
the current terms of the BC Hydro Electricity
Purchase Agreement and the stated terms of the
British Columbia Environmental Assessment
Certificate.
In 2011, after the project had been ongoing for
approximately eight months with another
engineering firm, we were asked to assume
responsibility for the final design and procurement
of construction services.
We quickly assembled a highly experienced
design team—most members were in place within
30 days—and successfully managed the transition
in conjunction with contractors already
progressing with underground excavations. With
significant modifications required to the
headworks and underground powerhouse during
this period, we conducted weekly design updates
with the construction team and managed the
changes with minimal lost time and rework in the
field.
Key elements

Headworks facility: eight-bay forebay
control structure/de-sander and power
tunnel portal designed for a maximum flow
of 262 m3/s;

7 m high overflow weir including two 10 m
wide Obermeyer gates

Gated sluiceway with a 6 m wide by 9 m
high radial gate

7.5 m wide by 11 m high vertical power
tunnel intake gate

Riparian discharge conduit with a
capacity of 10 m3/s


3.3 km long power tunnel

650 m long powerhouse construction
access tunnel and

144 m long x 17 m wide x 22 m high
powerhouse cavern

Underground powerhouse with nine 23.49
MW horizontal axis Francis Generating Units


400 m long tailrace tunnel and

287 kV, five-node ring-bus surface
switchyard including three 13.8 287-kV 85
MVA generator step-up transformers

44 km long, 287 kV transmission line
950 m long powerhouse main access
tunnel
150 m long vertical shaft to accommodate
the generator main lead cables
AltaGas managed the various construction
contracts, while we provided resident engineering
support services. We delivered detailed construction drawings and specifications for the
underground works contracts, general civil works, balance-of-plant electrical and mechanical
works, and switchyard. We also provided drawings and specifications for a number of EPC
contracts including the major mechanical equipment (gates, valves and powerhouse crane)
and the 44 km transmission line.
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
One of the most interesting technical challenges involved addressing the strict flow ramping
requirements of the facility which were imposed to limit the water level fluctuations in fishbearing areas of the river downstream of the powerplant. Together with AltaGas and Andritz
Hydro, we developed an innovative configuration that allowed flow bypass through the nine
generating units while running at over-speed. This avoided the need to construct a costly
additional underground flow bypass and energy dissipation system.
Another challenge involved managing the high levels of bedload and suspended sediment
carried in the river. Innovative sediment collection and flushing capabilities were built into the
project to reduce sediment ingress to the power tunnel in order to limit turbine runner wear.
Before moving ahead, the design and performance of these facilities were confirmed through
extensive numerical studies and physical hydraulic modeling.
The plant is now in commercial operation with six generating units commissioned and delivering
energy to the BC Hydro transmission system. The remaining three units are on schedule for
completion and full commissioning this month—and the entire project is expected to come in on
time and on budget.
For further information, please contact:
Shawn R. Smith, PEng
Associate, Renewable Power
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
+1 604 630 7345
Tonawanda, New York, USA
Shawn.Smith@hatch.ca
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
500 kV transmission development plan for Fort
McMurray area in Alberta
Alberta’s Integrated Electric System (AIES) has limited interarea power transfer capability to supply the continually growing
demand in the Fort McMurray (FMM) area.
This is primarily due to the significant power demands of oil
sands extraction and processing projects around FMM, which
will continue over the planning horizon to 2022. Some of the
load growth is offset by local generation, but the load and
generation additions in FMM and other areas of the AIES are
expected to increase power transfer levels between the two
areas.
Past planning studies identified the need for inter-regional
transmission reinforcement and recommended a 500 kV
development plan in the FMM area. It was designated as a
Critical Transmission Infrastructure (CTI) project and included
in the Electric Utilities Act, legislated to be completed through a
The proposed solution involves a new
500 kV transmission line to transfer 1,500 to
1,800 MW over a distance of 500 km.
competitive process.
Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) engaged Hatch to undertake comprehensive transmission
system planning studies to validate bulk transmission needs in the 10-year time frame and to prepare
functional specifications for the required transmission facilities, including cost estimates. The proposed
500 kV transmission development plan needed to transfer over 1,500 MW of power for a distance of over
500 km between Edmonton and Fort McMurray areas. The key objectives of the study were to:
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca

Validate the need and timing of the proposed 500 kV development based on 2012 long-term
outlook (LTO) load and generation forecast and system topology

Conduct related engineering studies to determine the design parameters of the transmission
development to ensure the project is compliant with the Alberta reliability standards and meets all
other engineering and performance standards

Support the competitive procurement process in preparing the functional specifications for the
project

Prepare technical planning reports documenting the results of need assessment (phase 1),
development and screening of transmission options (phase 2), and detailed technical and
economic analysis of the preferred development option (phase 3).
Accordingly, extensive transmission system studies and analyses were undertaken to establish power
transfer capability of the existing transmission system between FMM and the rest of the AIES. This
exercise provided insight into the potential gap between the existing capability and future power transfer
needs. Once the need and timing of the bulk transmission reinforcement solution were identified, multiple
transmission development alternatives were considered and analyzed for transferring 1,500 to 1,800 MW
over a distance of 500 km. Alternatives included expansion of the existing 240 kV network, ±350 kV HVdc
bipole lines, and 500 kV transmission options. These options were compared in view of technical,
operational, land use and economic considerations in order to maintain system-wide performance targets
for reliability, security and efficiency.
Further detailed system studies and analyses were performed to evaluate long-term performance of the
proposed 500 kV transmission solution under credible load and generation scenarios. The performance
was assessed in terms of flows out of the FMM region, loading capability of 500 kV lines, shunt reactive
compensation requirements, transformation capacity at 500 kV terminal substations, and future provisions
for increasing power transfer capability. In addition, various important technical parameters were
established for the development of functional specifications for these proposed facilities.
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
The project defined by these studies is currently the subject of a competitive procurement process
administered by AESO.
For further information, please contact:
Fiaz Chaudhry, PhD, PEng
Manager, Power System Planning
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
+1 905 403 4122
mailto:FChaudhry@hatch.ca
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
Energy efficiency for IADB
The Inter-American Development Bank has retained Hatch to provide
energy efficiency consulting services to its customers in South America
and the Caribbean.
The program includes energy efficiency audits, small-scale renewable
energy feasibility studies, and green engineering design services.
Four task orders have been signed to date including: a study of behindthe-meter solar photovoltaic installations and a cogeneration plant at a
university campus in Jamaica; energy efficiency initiatives at an agroindustrial complex in Peru; operational improvements, energy audits and
assistance with LEED certification of large warehouses in Argentina; and
assistance in outsourcing the development and O&M responsibility for a
large-scale city street lighting system in Brazil, including conversion to LED
technology.
Solar PV is an energyefficient option
For further information, please contact:
Robert Griesbach, MBA, PEng
Director, Energy Consulting
Hatch Management Consulting
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
+ 1 905 403 4102
RGriesbach@hatch.ca
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
Social impact assessment for floating LNG project in
Australia
The Browse Joint Venture’s proposed commercialization of gas and condensate fields in the
Browse Basin (425 km from Broome, Western Australia) could involve up to three FLNG vessels
and numerous onshore sites. Hatch is undertaking a comprehensive SIA of onshore activities, a
stakeholder engagement process, development of social design criteria for concurrent BOD
and FEED phases, and a draft social impact management plan with practicable options and
measureable KPIs. Having recently completed a similar assignment for Shell’s Prelude project,
Hatch’s Environmental Services Group is the only Australian consultancy with proven experience
in this unique area.
For more information, contact Brigid Hosmer
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
Upcoming Conferences
Renewables & Mining Summit & Exhibition
October 15 – 16, 2014
Toronto, Canada
Hatch is the principal sponsor for this summit which brings together leaders from the global
mining industry and the renewable energy sector to discuss mining’s energy challenges. Rob
Lydan, Hatch director for Solar and Wind, will speak on “Customizing Integrated Energy Solutions
for Mines” and is a panelist at the “Hybrid Solutions for Mines” session. Read a recent interview
with Lydan here.
Visit Booth 9 to meet Hatch’s power and energy experts.
Generate 2014
October 15 – 17, 2014
Vancouver, Canada
Meet our water power experts at Booth 3.
Ontario Waterpower Association
October 19 – 21, 2014
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Visit Hatch at Booth 11. Noel Boucher will participate in Session 3C: “An Integrated Approach to
Waterpower Development—Biologists and Engineers Working Together".
EPC[M] for Mining and Energy Projects
October 20 – 21, 2014
Calgary, Canada
Hatch is an exhibitor, sponsor, and presenter. Ashok Kumar, a senior project manager at Hatch,
will lead the workshop “EPC 101: A Primer on EPC Frameworks”.
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca
CanWEA 2014
October 27 – 29, 2014
Montréal, Canada
Hatch is an exhibiter and presenter. Meet our wind power experts at Booth 1615. Michel
Carreau, an energy director at Hatch, will present: “An overview of challenges for wind power
on remote mining sites”.
AECL/CNS 3rd International Technical Meeting on Small Reactors
November 5 – 7, 2014
Ottawa, Canada
Brian Gihm, a senior nuclear engineer, will present on: “Design Considerations for Micro Nuclear
Reactors to Supply Power to Off-Grid Mines”.
Solar Canada 2014
December 8 – 9, 2014
Toronto, Canada
Visit us at Booth 1217 and meet our solar energy experts.
Hatch Corporate Office
Sheridan Science & Technology Park
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, ON L5K 2R7
Canada
Tel: +1 905 855 7600 | Fax: +1 905 855 8270
www.hatch.ca