Tualatin unveils city’s first hydropower project
Tualatin, Ore., celebrated the opening of the city’s first hydropower project, which is expected to generate more than 270,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity each year.
The project installed a 56-kilowatt in-pipe hydropower system at the Tualatin City Services facility, capturing unused pressure from the Bull Run Reservoir to Tualatin’s water distribution system. This is expected to completely power the City Services facility and save the city an estimated $26,000 each year.
The city has plans to install a microgrid and large battery in the future to power municipal buildings.
“Through net metering, the electricity produced is returned to the grid and credited against the energy use of the entire Tualatin City Services facility,” said Mayor Frank Bubenik. “The turbine is expected to generate more electricity than the site uses, helping support future energy needs and electrification efforts.
“When cities are willing to explore innovative ideas, they can unlock far more value from the infrastructure than they already have,” said Tracy Scott, director of energy programs with Energy Trust of Oregon. “This project will generate renewable power while helping Tualatin reduce its energy costs year after year, leaving more resources available for other community priorities. That’s the kind of practical, lasting value we’re looking to help communities achieve.”
Photo Credit: FlowerCrow, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
