This new run-of-river hydropower facility is located on on Padakus Creek, a tributary of the Kingcome River. The project is owned by the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation (DFN) and serves the DFN’s village of Gwayi.
Gwayi is an off-grid community at the head of Kingcome Inlet and was previously served by a diesel power station. Displacing diesel-generated power with clean, renewable hydroelectric energy was a key DFN objective. Initially, a power flow of 0.20 m3/s will be used to generate up to 350kW. A future expansion has been incorporated in the design; it will add a second turbine, bringing the power flow to 0.50 m3/s and generating up to 700kW.

At full power, the hydro facility displaces 97% of diesel consumption in average flow years and up to 100% in high flow years, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ±868 tonnes of CO2-equiv annually to ±26 tonnes.

DFN members played critical roles during the project. During project development they provided valuable local knowledge and contributed to all crucial decisions during the project’s evolution. DFN’s perspective and clarity based on their traditional values was essential for a successful project outcome.

Key components are

• An intake to divert power flow into the penstock, comprising a check-dam weir, a concrete side inlet structure with a dual-screen Tyrolean weir and an FRP stilling well.
  
• A 1336 m long penstock comprising140 m of DN750 and 1186 m of DN500 buried HDPE pipe. The remaining 10 m of DN400 steel pipe, with the bifurcation for future expansion, is buried for rockfall protection.
  
• A DN500 HDPE branch pipe wye off the penstock, providing surge attenuation.
  
• A sustainable mass-timber powerhouse with a 110 m2 footprint, for the twin-jet 350 kW Pelton turbine, generator, and supporting equipment from Dependable Turbines. The plant design accommodates future expansion for a second turbine. A 5 MT bridge crane is provided for maintenance.
  
• A 30m DN 900 HDPE tailrace pipe returns power flow to Padakus Creek

• The design team took a collaborative approach with the civil, geotechnical and hydrotechnical specialists working closely with the project managers and the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation to develop solutions that met the Nation’s objectives and the project budget.
  
• Our team developed innovative designs for key project components, that optimized cost-efficiency, constructability and technical requirements.
  
• The intake is located at a very challenging, steep, reach of the creek, with significant debris flood hazards and sediment movement.
  
• The in-stream works maintained the pre-project stream bed slope and comprise interlocking large rip-rap and boulders for stability. The check-weir crest stays within the stream bed, but slopes slightly to the right-bank intake works allowing unhindered sediment passage while diverting flows into the side-channel inlet.
  
• A substantial horizontal bar rack keeps debris from entering the side-channel inlet which leads flows to the dual screen Tyrolean intake for fine sediment control. The structure is protected by removable precast covers.
  
• A headrace pipe connects to the stilling well that calms and deaerates flows. A sluice pipe and the penstock exit the well, both controlled by manual gates.
  
• An earthen protection berm protects the intake from snow and debris avalanche hazards coming from an upstream gully.
  
• The powerhouse is built from mass timber, allowing for accelerated erection, and creating a green sustainable BC sourced timber building.

The project is currently generating clean renewable hydroelectric energy for the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation’s community of Gwayi near Kingcome Inlet. The addition of the hydroelectric facility is significantly reducing the community reliance on diesel generated power.

Power from the hydro facility displaces 97% of diesel consumption in average flow years and up to 100% in high flow years, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ±868 tonnes of CO2-equiv annually to ±26 tonnes.