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During Clean Currents 2023, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, this past October, WWS Wasserkraft received an Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters Award (OSAW) in the category of Operational Excellence for its Upper Collinsville Hydroelectric Power Plant project.
National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) OSAW Awards are an annual honor that recognizes deserving organizations in the hydropower and marine energy industry for projects that exhibit exemplary operational, educational, historical, recreational, or environmental enhancement and stewardship.
WWS Wasserkraft’s Upper Collinsville Hydroelectric Power Plant received an OSAW Award for its transformation of the Collinsville Dam, a nearly 200-year-old structure, into a functioning, modern hydropower project complete with fish passage and recreational opportunities. WWS Wasserkraft’s work in Upper Collinsville, Connecticut, exemplifies hydropower’s community merits, as well as the importance of small hydro as a renewable energy resource.
The Upper Collinsville Hydroelectric Power Project, located on the Farmington River in Upper Collinsville, Connecticut.
THE PROJECT
In 2018, WWS Wasserkraft and Canton Hydro approached the town of Upper Collinsville, Connecticut, with a proposal to restore power generation, create safe passage for fish, and add recreational opportunities to the Collinsville Dam – constructed in 1867.
The project, which completed construction earlier this year, added much needed improvements to the Collinsville Dam. Previously, the dam had acted as a barrier for fish migration for nearly 200 years while remaining unpowered since 1966.
One of the primary goals of the project was to raise the water level in the impoundment by three feet, which was achieved through the implementation of automatic crest gates. This increase in water level created new opportunities for recreation, including kayaking, and the addition of a portage has made it easier for kayakers to navigate the area.
The issue with fish passage was alleviated by installing a Denil fish ladder, which provides upstream passage, as well as a fish slide with plunge pool for downstream passage in front of the turbine. Additionally, two new options have been introduced to specifically aid in eel migration.
The old turbine house also received a new, efficient Kaplan turbine, which was manufactured and designed by WWS Wasserkraft in Austria. The Kaplan turbine represents a significant contribution to the local energy supply while acting as a great example of sustainable energy production.
Currently, the Upper Collinsville Hydroelectric Power Plant has been fully automated, and it provides 4.3 GWh of hydropower each year, helping reduce CO2 emissions by 3.2 metric tons annually.
A video WWS Wasserkraft created to promote the completion of the Upper Collinsville Hydroelectric Power Plant.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The application window for the 2024 OSAW Awards opens in spring of 2024, and the award ceremony will take place at NHA’s Clean Currents in Portland, OR, which runs October 7-10.
For more information about the OSAW Awards, click here.
Watch the OSAW Awards video here.
