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Hydropower Projects
Symbiotics’ run-of-river hydroelectric projects are far different from conventional hydroelectric projects. Because high environmental impact is a direct consequence of their original design, conventional hydroelectric projects are not readily adaptable to current environmental standards and concerns. By contrast, because they were not originally designed to produce hydroelectric power, existing dams that meet our specifications for retrofitting are highly amenable to our new eco-friendly construction. Through various low-impact design techniques, our run-of-river projects avoid alteration of downstream flows below the diversion. By harnessing a range of flows for power generation without disrupting an area’s historical flow regime, these projects preserve the balance among environmental, recreational, and municipal demands placed upon local watersheds. Symbiotics’ run-of-river projects are designed to meet the standards set forth by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s (LIHI) Certification Program. To be certified by LIHI, a hydroelectric project must meet the following criteria: For more information on the LIHI Certification Program, please visit the Low-Impact Hydropower Institute website. Symbiotics has built an extensive proprietary database of potential run-of-river projects in North America. In 2001 our staff reviewed over 30,000 dams for their power generation potential. Candidate projects were ranked based on capacity, annual generation, construction feasibility and environmental sensitivity. This database continues to be updated to accommodate changing market conditions and increased demand for renewable energy. This database is a key asset supporting our project development activities as we seek development partners. |
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