Downstream Benefits

Connecting the lights and motors of Calgary to the turbines and generators on the Bow unleashed another powerful imperative: the need for technological efficiency. In order to be maximally efficient, hydroelectric installations must operate continuously and at capacity. For many months of the year,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inWilderness and Waterpower pp. 51 - 72
Main Authors Armstrong, Christopher, Nelles, H. V
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Canada University of Calgary Press 2013
Subjects
Environmental economics
History of other lands
History of the Americas
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Summary:Connecting the lights and motors of Calgary to the turbines and generators on the Bow unleashed another powerful imperative: the need for technological efficiency. In order to be maximally efficient, hydroelectric installations must operate continuously and at capacity. For many months of the year, however, the Bow River provided only enough water to run the equipment at the Horseshoe and Kananaskis sites at a fraction of their capacity. Expensive capital equipment had to be paid for, even when it was not running: it could not be laid off like the human work force. Adding a second generating station provided some
ISBN:1552386341
9781552386347
DOI:10.1515/9781552386361-005