Smithland Hydro Project

20150730 3675c

Photo from C.J.Mahan

This is one of the pictures I took of the Smithland Lock and Dam. When I noticed the red crane on the other shore, I did some research. It is part of AMP's Smithland Hydro Project that has been under construction since 2010. It is nice that high-flow, low-head turbines have been developed for run-of-the-river hydroelectric generating units. In this case, bulb/pit turbines made by Voith Hydro. This plant should be able to extract 72 MW from the dam's 22-foot head.

AMP has construction photos for its hydro projects. (Scroll down to find the Smithland albums.) The contractor, C.J.Mahan, also has construction pictures for this project. Although I don't know how long they will be the featured project and if they will be accessible in the future.

Update:

Satellite image captured 20160124
Still the same 20170321
20180622: The image is the same, but the label has been changed to Collier Electric.