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DWR unveils pumping plant energy efficiency improvements

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 29, 2008 at 10:23 pm

dwr-logobig_thumb.gifFrom the Department of Water Resources:

The Department of Water Resources today announced that the first pump refurbishment project at the A.D. Edmonston pumping plant has been completed. This is the first step of a project to refurbish four of the 14 pumping units at the plant to improve State Water Project (SWP) energy efficiency.

“This represents another milestone in our efforts to increase the energy efficiency of the State Water Project and reduce the carbon footprint of our operations,” said DWR Director Lester A. Snow, speaking at A.D. Edmonston pumping plant, located about 30 miles south of Bakersfield.

When completed in 2011, the refurbishment of the four Edmonston pumps, combined with the efficiency improvements already done at Hyatt Powerplant in Oroville, will save enough energy to power 33,000 households for a year, or the equivalent to taking 11,000 cars off the road. The energy saved from the refurbishment of the first pump alone is equivalent to that generated by a 12-acre solar panel farm.

DWR is one of the largest generators of clean hydroelectric generation in the state. On average, 60 percent of the SWP’s power portfolio is from non-carbon emitting sources, primarily the SWP’s hydroelectric plants. The Edmonston plant is an essential link in the SWP that pumps water over the Tehachapi Mountains into Southern California.

The SWP is the largest state-owned water conveyance system in the United States, yet it yields less than one percent of California’s greenhouse gas emissions. The A.D. Edmonston pump refurbishments, along with other efficiency projects, will help DWR meet the state’s strict Assembly Bill 32 goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. DWR is on track to meet those levels seven years ahead of schedule, in 2013.

DWR also plays an important role in stabilizing the state’s energy grid by participating in the Demand Response Program. As part of the program, DWR reduces its pumping operations during peak summer hours, freeing up cleaner energy to provide power to the grid that would otherwise be attained from dirtier sources.

DWR is also working on other initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint including:

• A study to investigate the potential for the development of solar and wind energy at DWR facilities.

• Investigating the potential for additional pumped storage operations and facilities.

• Installation of a small hydroelectric generator (14 megawatts) as part of the East Branch Extension Phase II project.

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The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.

May 29, 2008 · Filed Under DWR & State Water Project

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