Hatch wins 2009 Canadian Consulting Engineering Award
Hatch received an Award of Excellence (Natural Resources, Energy category) from the Association of Canadian Engineering Companies and Canadian Consulting Engineer for our work on the development of hydroelectric-power generation at Locks 1 and 2 on the Welland Canal in Ontario.
The historic canal connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through a series of eight locks, which allow ships to avoid the 51-meter-high Niagara Falls.
Hatch was retained by the Rankin Renewable Power Inc in 2007 to design two water power facilities within the locks for converting previously spilled water into green, renewable energy. This required the development of economic and practical solutions that were implemented under a constrained schedule and challenging geological conditions. The project was completed in 2009 on schedule, within budget, and safely, with no lost-time incidents.
To optimize the production of energy at the site, Hatch undertook a design that required the excavation of the bottom of the canal. At Lock 2 the excavation exposed unexpected and undesirable geological conditions (very weak silty-clay soil), which required the development of innovative, cost-effective real-time design modifications. The solutions included designing the new power structures to be supported on piles, driven down to the bedrock surface approximately 20 metres below the bottom of the excavation.
The environmental footprint and life-cycle emissions of the new hydroelectric facilities will be lower than at conventional greenfield sites. Locks 1 and 2 will generate 25 GWh of green energy and offset 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
An acoustic assessment was performed using state-of-the-art methodologies to ensure that the new facilities would minimize noise disturbance for the local residents of St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Kaplan-type turbines were selected to minimize impacts on fish, and the upstream trash-racks were designed to minimize fish entrainment.
Key team members included Jan Bielenberg, hydrotechnical lead; Noel Boucher, environmental coordinator; Lisa Carson, project support coordinator; Brian Fleming, mechanical lead; Harold Witt, electrical coordinator; Charlene Zhao, drafting lead; and Ivor Shaw, project manager.
The 2009 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards were handed out at a gala dinner at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa on November 3.
The annual awards are Canada's highest mark of recognition for projects by Canadian consulting engineering firms.
- posted January 18, 2010
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