transalta evolve schulich

PHASE I

Background

  • Tent Mountain, formerly a coal mine in southwest Alberta, is undergoing evaluation for transformation into a 320 MW pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) facility with a continuous generation duration of up to 16 hours, jointly pursued by TransAlta and Evolve Power.
  • The goal of this project is to transform the former pit mine into a renewable energy storage facility, effectively acting as a large battery, managing the equilibrium between supply and demand and supporting the stability of the electricity grid.

Reservoir Sizing and Characteristics

  • The Upper Reservoir's seepage losses were analyzed and quantified using SEEP/W within GeoStudio. Based on this analysis, strategies to mitigate these losses, such as implementing a vertical cutoff wall and exterior curtain grouting, were recommended.
  • Three alternative types of rockfill embankment dams for the North and South Dams were examined, each with distinct core materials: sheet pile, asphalt, and concrete-faced. The asphalt core was selected due to its ease of construction, lower environmental footprint, and cost-effectiveness.
  • A 15 m wide broad-crested spillway, with a crest height of 0.3 m above the normal maximum operating level (NMOL) was selected to safely route the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). The peak outflow rate during a PMF was calculated at 29.6 m3/s.
  • The riparian outlet flow range was determined to be between 0.0 and 1.0 m3/s, depending on seasonality.
Phase II
Contact
monique.beaulieu@ucalgary.ca
Land Acknowledgment

Land Acknowledgement: We would like to acknowledge that our University is located on Treaty 7 Territory, which is the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations; the Tsuut’ina First Nation; and the Stoney Nakoda, which includes the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations. Treaty 7 is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta – Region III.

References:

[1] Evolve Power. "Tent Mountain Pumped Hydro Energy Storage." [Online]. Available: https://evolvepower.ca/what-we-do/tent-mountain-pumped-hydro-energy-storage/. [March 23, 2024].