Hydro site investigations

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 2

Hydro site investigations

Energy reporter An electricity supply for the area from Castle Hill to Arthur's Pass came a step closer to reality yesterday when the Central Canterbury Electric-Power Board voted to continue investigations into sites for small hydro power stations. At present, the only electricity supply in the region is from privately owned generating equipment. Preliminary investigations of seven catchments for hydro power development have been made by the board and the consulting engineers, Morris and Wilson. The latest report from the en-

gineers was received at the board’s meeting yesterday and prompted the decision to spend $13,000 on more detailed site investigations.

Only walk-through inspections have been made of the area so far, at a cost to the board of $2OOO. When discussing the cost of the more detailed investigations the board’s chairman (Mr L. F. Chamberlain)

said, "there has been a change in Government thinking on local generation. A supply of funds has been made available for these schemes, and if they abort they cost us nothing. If they are successful there is quite a tag attached.” “Because of a lack of basic board decided to go ahead with its investigations by itself. Provision in the estimates for the investigations was $20,000. No figures were yet available to the board on the economic viability of the hydro schemes. With the escalating price of electricity, the small schemes would soon become economic even if they were not initially economic, said Mr Chamberlain.

The general manager (Mr S. E. Slatter) said he had received substantial inquiries for electricity from consumers in the Cass area. These included the kailways Department, the University of Canterbury, the Ministry of Works and Development, and private persons. Options on the type and

size of the schemes are still open. According to reports from the engineers, the stations could vary from a small 300 KW capacity machine in Misery Stream to a large 20MW peaking installation using the Cass and Craigieburn Rivers and Slovens Stream, with a 6MW continuous operation. “Because of lack of basic data with respect to rainfall and river flows we suggest a study covering a. minimum of two years to include continuous flow measurements and preliminary engineering and geological studies as well as the effects of such schemes on your own load curves and distribution system,” said the engineer’s report. Mr Chamberlain paid trib-

ute to the efforts of Mr W. H. Falconer, who retired from the board at the meeting. “He has always been a champion of the people of the Waimakariri River Basin,” he said. “It must be satisfying to go out at a meeting when we make steps to bring power to the area.”