Chakachamna

Hydropower

TDX Power
Nicholas Goodman
Eric Yould
for
Chugach Electric Association
April 2009

Characteristics of Hydropower

Renewable energy

High front end cost

Low annual costs

Long lead time for permitting and

construction

Long operational life (200 years or more)

Can be very environmentally benign

Can impart major environmental impact

Inventory of Alaska Hydropower

Potential

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

256 sites with continuous power greater

than 250 MW
192 billion KWH energy potential
40% of the United States untapped
hydropower

Potential Major Alaska

Hydropower Projects
Project Name

River System

Installed Capacity
(Megawatts)

Energy
(Million KWH/yr)

Holy Cross

Yukon

2,800

12,300

Ruby

Yukon

1,460

6,400

Rampart

Yukon

6,000

34,200

Porcupine

Porcupine

530

2,320

Woodchopper

Yukon

2,160

14,200

Yukon-Aaiya

Yukon

3,200

21,000

Susitna

Susitna

1,500

6,500

Chakachamna

Chakachatna

320

1,600

Wood Canyon

Copper

3,600

21,900

Stikine

Stikine

2,260

9,900

Note: Chugach Electric Energy Sales approximately 2,800 million KWH

Existing Hydropower
Statewide
40 projects
Most located in Southeast

Existing Hydropower
Southcentral
Eklutna
Bradley Lake
Cooper Lake

37.5 MW
90 MW
5 MW

Alternatives in South Central Alaska

Chakachamna Hydropower
Investigations
Department of
Interior

Late 1940s

Reconnaissance

U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers

1970s

Reconnaissance

Alaska Power
Authority

Early 1980s

Pre-feasibility

TDX Power

2006

FERC permit

Chakachamna Hydro Power

Studied by Alaska Power Authority in early 1980s

Divert stream flow from Chakachatna River to a
powerhouse on the McArthur River by way of a 10 mile
25 foot diameter power tunnel
No dam on Chakachamna Lake
Installed capacity of 330 MW, generating 1.6 billion
KWH annually
Total cost of project in 2008 dollars = $1.66 billion
Project is 41 miles from Chugach Electric power
facilities at Beluga

Chakachamna Project Location

Project Concept Features

Fish Gates (No Dam)

Power Tunnel

~ 16,700 acres @ normal maximum water surface elevation of

1,142 feet

Site Access

Adult migration
Juvenile outmigration

Reservoir

Located at McArthur River

Fish Passage Facilities

24 foot diameter tunnel

10 miles long

Power House

Located at the outlet of the lake

Would likely be Trading Bay

Transmission Line

42 miles to existing CEA substation at Beluga

Chakachamna Aerial View

Chakachamna Lake Outlet

13

KENIBUNA LAKE

14

Chakachamna Intake Site

McArthur River Valley Power Plant Site

McARTHUR RIVER
POWERHOUSE SITE

17

Chakachamna Lake Tap Gate Shaft

Inflow to Power Tunnel

McArthur River Underground

Powerhouse (Chakachamna)

Issues that Must be Addressed

CHAKACHAMNA FISHERIES
.

5 species of salmon use the basin

Sockeye the main salmon species
Dolly Varden ubiquitous in the streams
Lake trout observed in lake
Not a large anadromous fishery but worthy
of protecting
Fish gates at lake outlet required
Possible temperature enhancement to river

Salmon Escapement
source: Bechtel 1983. Chakachamna Hydro Interim Feasibility Assessment Report
Chakachatna River Drainage
Salmon
Species

Chakachatna
Bridge Side
Channels and
Sloughs

Igitna River

Chilligan
River

Straight Creek
Clear Water
Tributary

Other Small
Drainages and
Tributaries

Drainage Total

Sockeye

1,193

2,781

38,576

254

600

43,637

Chinook

1,422

1,422

Pink

59

7,925

279

8,263

Chum

1,482

286

1,920

Coho

1,560

172

867

2,599

McArthur River Drainage

McArthur Canyon

Stream 13X

Stream 13U

Stream 12.1

Other Streams

Drainage Total

Sockeye

666

5,416

1,213

16,711

10,925

34,933

Chinook

452

1,633

22

2,107

Pink

60

4,225

5,402

8,499

1,591

19,777

Chum

23

29

Coho

1,182

1,378

32

2,000

135

4,729

Cook Inlet Sockeye

Populations
Run

System
Crescent River
Fish Creek

Run
109,000
37,000

Kasilof River

1,247,000

Kenai River

2,411,000

Susitna River

487,000

Minor Systems

644,000

*Chakachamna (1982)

78,000

Fish Passage Concepts

Fish Passage Concepts

Fish Passage Concepts

CHAKACHAMNA WILDLIFE

56 species of birds
16 species of mammals
Moose, wolves, lynx, bear, wolverine, other fur
bearers
None on the endangered species list (Beluga)
Less impact than other hydro projects of
similar size

Geotechnical Considerations

Seismic Castle Mountain Fault

Volcanic Mount Spurr (1992 & 1953
eruptions)
Glacial Barrier, Blockade, McArthur,
Shamrock

Geotechnical Overview

29

Cost of Power

TDX Power financial model = 9 cents/kwh

(assumes 100% debt at 5% interest rate, $10 million annual O&M,
insurance, debt coverage etc.)

AEA model for large hydro = 6-8 cents/kwh

(some differences from TDX Power model include lower O&M, lower
debt coverage, no inflation etc.)

Geotechnical Overview

MAFA Public Use Railbelt Energy Model, beta version 1a, 21 Feb 09

Next Steps

Preliminary permit
investigations

36 months

FERC licensing

18-36 months

Project construction

48-54 months

Power on line

2017

Contact Information
TDX Power, Incorporated (TDX)
Anchorage Office:
4300 B Street, Suite # 402, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 278-2312 Fax: (907) 278-2332
Email: Info@tdxpower.com

Philadelphia Office
715 Folly Hill Road
Kennett Square, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 388-1700
Fax: (610) 388-1505
Email: Bruce@tdxpower.com

St. Paul Office

100 Airport Way
St. Paul, AK 99660
Phone: (907) 546-5007
Fax: (907) 278-2332
Email: info@tdxpower.com