The Amador Water Agency Ione Reservoir Hydropower Project

Historically, Pelton turbines have been used for in-conduit electric power generation, including secondary applications such as small water districts installing turbines for generation on new or existing water distribution system piping. However, small hydropower projects face major hurdles, including but not limited to high upfront construction costs and low financial returns from power generated. This project endeavored to design and install a small hydropower project with a more efficient Pelton Turbine at the Amador Water Agency’s Ione Reservoir. Successful operation of a more efficient turbine could increase production without increasing flow and make this and similar installations more viable. With any small hydropower installation, a small water utility could potentially offset some of its own power usage at other sites and deliver clean power and renewable energy to the statewide electric grid. The goal to improve the economic performance and viability of small hydropower sites was not met due to higher than expected costs to install the system and lower than expected returns from the electricity produced. Lessons learned include using more realistic assumptions during the planning phases for installation costs, electricity generation, and amount of return. Other districts considering these installations can learn from this project by applying more conservative operating assumptions when assessing whether this kind of hydropower can prove a reasonable return on investment.