Third turbine being installed at Wanapum

Total redesign part of upgrade package

EPHRATA — An advanced hydropower turbine is scheduled for installation and modification Nov. 7 at Columbia River's Wanapum Dam.

The turbine, to be completely installed by August 2007, is third in a set of ten being installed. The final seven are going to be replaced by 2014.

"The first turbine was installed on schedule, while installation of the second unit was completed two weeks ahead of time," said Pat Oldham, Grant PUD project engineer. "It has been a learning curve but things have gone well, and the crews have come up with some good solutions."

The installation of the turbines is part of a process involving a redesign of the Wanapum Dam turbine and the turbine's components. The hydropower plant is 43 years old.

According to the Grant County Public Utility District, the turbine is an advanced design that increases power generation by 14 percent and improves the efficiency of water use by 3 percent. The survival rate for fish passage is nearly 98 percent, the PUD said.

The U.S. Department of Energy and hydropower industry designed the new technology. Grant County PUD is providing the first commercial application of the technology. The Department of Energy provided a $2.4 million grant to help the PUD with installation.

— Staff report