MICRO-HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION UTILIZING MINE DRAINAGE

With a combined flow rate ranging from about 63 to 126 lps, the treated effluent and seasonal untreated overflow at a conventional mine water treatment plant are being used to generate electricity. Two micro-hydroelectric turbines, individually rated at 20 kW, were installed in 2012 at the Antrim Treatment Plant, operated by the Babb Creek Watershed Association since 2001, to defray operation and maintenance costs in order to help assure sustainable treatment. This is one of the first projects in Pennsylvania to use treated and untreated AMD to generate electricity utilizing impulse (Turgo) turbines. In addition to furnishing the power needs of selected treatment components at the plant, the intention is to eventually connect to the local electric utility or “the grid”. The complex terrain coupled with the utilization of both the treated and seasonal raw overflow water created some unique design and construction issues. This is a case study on the permitting and construction of the micro-hydroelectric power facility at the Antrim Treatment Plant located in the bituminous coal fields of north-central Pennsylvania within the Susquehanna River Basin.