Canadian energy developer Plutonic Power Corp has been successful in its early stage applications for three more power plants but recently exited a supply deal with BC Hydro for Rainy River scheme due to environmental difficulties.
The three run-of-river projects are Gargoyle Creek, Coola Creek and Heakamie River, and they would have a combined nstalled capacity of 110MW. They are to be built near the headwater of the Bute Inlet, about 130km north of the Powell river in British Columbia.
At this stage, the projects have completed Stages 1 and 2 towards securing a water licence and Crown land rights for development. They are expected to generate approximately 320GWh of electricity per year.
Plutonic recently exited a supply deal with BC Hydro for the 15MW Rainy River scheme due to “unexpected complexities” in the environmental permitting process for the hydro project. The key problems were the discovery of several fish species, including salmon and steelhead, above the project site.
The company said the complexities in the permitting process had led to increased risk regarding the timing of commercial operations of the plant.
At present, the company has a portfolio of 34 hydro projects at various stages of development, and the first – Toba/Montrose Creek – is commencing construction.