Title: Current Situation
1Juan de Fuca Cable
Presented by Sea Breeze Pacific Juan de Fuca
Cable, LP
2Presentation Overview
- Introduction
- Need for Project
- Project Description
- Environmental Considerations
- Permitting
3Introduction
- Sea Breeze Pacific Juan de Fuca Cable, LP (Sea
Breeze Pacific) is proposing to construct and
have operated a 550 MW High Voltage Direct
Current (HVDC) Light transmission line between
Port Angeles, Washington State, and the Greater
Victoria Area, B.C.
4Project Proponent and Team
- Sea Breeze Pacific Juan de Fuca Cable, LP is a
joint venture between Sea Breeze Power Corp., and
Boundless Energy, LLC.
5- Sea Breeze Power Corp Vancouver-based renewable
energy company building both wind and
run-of-river hydro electric projects. - Boundless Energy LLC Transmission and utility
engineering company based in York Harbor, Maine.
Originators of the Neptune Regional Transmission
System HVDC concept and plan. - ABB, Inc. One of three companies in the world
involved in large scale HVDC engineering. - Design, manufacturing, and installation company,
has completed major projects on every continent. - Currently seven operating HVDC LightTM lines in
the world. - A 110 km line was just approved to link Finland
with Estonia.
6Need for the Project
- Opportunities to strengthen B.C. and Washington
transmission grids and improve voltage stability - Consideration of short-term and long-term power
generation, supply and load demand conditions - Open Season, in which utilities will
competitively bid to use the line, will
ultimately demonstrate need
7Power Situation in the Pacific Northwest
- BC has high generation potential
- Many opportunities for electricity interchange
- Potential energy for transmission
- More than 7000 MW in coastal B.C.
- 2000 MW in northern Alberta
8Project Description
- HVDC Light Technology
- Location and Routing
- Installation and Construction
9HVDC Light Technology
- A proven, state-of-the-art technology with low
environmental impact and no fluctuating
electro-magnetic field (EMF) - Relatively low operating temperature, and
non-liquid insulation
AC and DC transmission cables. Two cables at far
right are HVDC LightTM. Photo courtesy of ABB.
10- Approximate diametre of cable bundle
- 16 cm on land
- 25 cm at sea
- Approximate temperature
- 70C in core
- 60C on cable surface.
- Heat is equivalent to one 20 Watt light bulb per
metre, or one 60 Watt light bulb every 3 metres.
Rate of heat dissipation will depend on substrate.
Gotland HVDC Light cables. Photo courtesy of ABB.
All cables would be buried no overhead lines
11Location Routing
Would connect converter stations near existing
substations in the Greater Victoria Area, B.C.
and Port Angeles, Washington. Proposed
terrestrial and underwater cable routes will be
subject to Federal and Municipal regulations.
Approximate lengths of cable Greater Victoria to
Port Angeles 46 km Proposed length on B.C.
side 10 km Proposed length on WA side 3
km Length at sea 33 km
12Proposed marine corridor approx. 500m wide
13Project planning and studies will take into
account consultation with interested and affected
parties, and will consider
- Environmental factors
- Fisheries
- Transportation
- First Nations interests
- Aesthetic factors
- Commercial use
- Recreational use
14Installation Construction
Installation Offshore/Marine
A ship-towed machine would create trenches, into
which the HVDC cable system would be buried. The
cable comes from the factory as one continuous
length.
The trenches would be deep enough to prevent
disturbance by ship anchors, etc. Anticipated
depth of burial is approximately 1 to 1.5 metres.
15Artistic rendering of marine cable installation
16Overview of cable installation foreshore and
offshore
17Installation Marine to Terrestrial Transition
- Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) would be
used to avoid adverse environmental effects. - A versatile technology that uses a
precision-guided directional system to bore a
hole through soil or rock. - Disturbance to marine foreshore areas is
minimized by drilling underneath them.
As a result, the intertidal zone would be
undisturbed by cable installation.
18Installation Terrestrial
- Beyond the transition zone, buried HVDC cables
would connect to a converter station. - Proposed path is within a public road right-of-way
Diagram of cable installation beneath road
right-of-way
19Converter Stations
A converter station would be needed to convert DC
to AC and vice versa.
Converter stations can be designed to fit into
their surroundings.
20Environmental Considerations
- Choice of Technology
- Choice of Installation Techniques
- Noise and Traffic Considerations
- Environmental Studies and Consultation
21HVDC LightTM Technology Environmental aspects
- No fluctuating electromagnetic field
- ? expected to have minimal to no effect on the
sensory organs of marine mammals and fish. - Cables are not liquid-cooled
- ? do not pose any danger of coolant leaks or
spills. - Relatively low operating temperature
- ? expected to have low impact on the local
heat regime
- No adverse impact anticipated to fisheries
resources during operation.
22Choice of Installation Techniques
Environmental aspects
- Buried submarine and terrestrial cable
- Disruption to marine floor is expected to be
local and short-term
- Directional drilling avoids damage to natural and
cultural features by drilling deep underneath
them.
23Noise Traffic Considerations
Installation
- Noise and visual impacts related to the cable
would be temporary and limited to construction - ? similar to the installation of a buried
telephone cable.
- Once cable is installed, maintenance activity
would be minimal.
Converter stations
- Design could include features to minimize noise
- Outer structure could be designed by architects
to minimize visual impact
24Environmental Studies and Consultation
Proposed Marine Studies
Proposed Terrestrial Studies
- Physical
- Bathymetry
- Geotechnical
- Terrain and obstacles
- Archaeology
- - Offshore core sampling
- Biological
- Mammals
- Fisheries
- Birds
- Nearshore ecosystem
- Socio-economic studies
- - Traditional use and knowledge
- Physical
- Geotechnical
- Hydrology
- Archaeology
- Noise
- Biological
- Wildlife and avifauna
- Vegetation
- Socio-economic studies
- - Traditional use and knowledge
Sea Breeze is committed to a high standard of
consultation with any individuals or groups who
may be affected by the Project.
25Expected Timeline
- 1. Terrestrial field studies - Start June 2005
completion anticipated July 2005 - Marine field studies Start June 2005 completion
anticipated August 2005 - 3. Permitting Start September 2004 completion
anticipated March 2006 - 4. Operational The physical construction phase
is expected to begin November 2006 and be
completed by November 2007.
26Permitting
- Final National Energy Board application is
expected to be filed October 2005 and will
include information to meet Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act requirements. - No Provincial permits required.
- Municipal permits will follow federal permit
approvals.
27Past Experience
The Neptune Regional Transmission System,
designed by Sea Breeze Pacific partners, has been
fully permitted through all environmental
processes. The system will start in New Jersey
and, through micro-tunneling, bring one end of
the 660 MW HVDC cable up into Long Island
underneath Jones Beach, a popular local
park. This line in the very populated New York
area has had no public opposition.
28Thank you