Alterra resumes power generation at Montrose hydro facility in Canada

Alterra Power has resumed power generation at the Montrose hydro facility located in the Toba Valley, approximately 80km northeast of Powell River on BC’s Sunshine Coast.

The facility, which is part of the Alterra’s 235MW Toba Montrose hydro facility, co-owned with Fiera Axium Western Energy, was restarted following completion of repairs to the facility’s penstock, which was damaged in a December 2012 rockslide.

Additionally, several site improvements including protective berms are also nearing completion and will significantly reduce chances of any potential damage or interruption.

The Toba Montrose facility, which began operating at full capacity in August 2010, is connected by 155km of 230kV transmission line to Saltery Bay, around 30km south of Powell River, the point of interconnection with BC Transmission Corporation.

The project generates and supplies 715,000MW annually to BC Hydro under a 35-year energy purchase agreement, through a partnership between Plutonic Power and GE Energy Financial Services.

Alterra vice president of hydro power Jay Sutton said that the company, along with the contractors, has completed the repair works and brought the facility online.