Argo, Brookfield Hydro Facilities to Provide 377 MW for Tennessee Valley Authority

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Argo Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, and Brookfield Renewable. The Cheoah, Calderwood, Chilhowee, and Santeetlah dams will supply more than 14 GWh of carbon-free electricity to TVA customers starting in 2025 and continuing over the next decade, supporting TVA’s transition toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

“This agreement supports the region's energy transition goals, where unprecedented growth in data centers, manufacturing, and other industries has increased the demand for carbon reduction and renewable energy options,” said Brice Soucy, Argo Senior Director and Member of the Smoky Board.

The dams, collectively known as the Smoky Mountain hydroelectric facilities, are jointly owned by Argo and Brookfield. The Smoky Mountain portfolio spans across four hydroelectric power facilities in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, with a total capacity of 377 MW and generates a yearly average of 1.4 million MWh of energy. This power output is equivalent to avoiding ~1.1 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

Cheoah dam; image credit: Low Impact Hydropower Institute

“We are thrilled to partner with TVA and deliver clean power solutions at scale to accelerate the energy transition,” said Stephen Gallagher, CEO of Brookfield Renewable North America. “We are positioned to meet increasing demand for power from digitalization and electrification with one of the largest renewable power platforms in the United States, including our strategic portfolio of hydro assets that can provide scale dispatchable clean power.”

TVA Power News

In early May 2024, TVA submitted an order with GE Vernova for 16 aeroderivative LM6000VELOX packages, each containing an LM6000 gas turbine and a generator, for installation at the Kingston Energy Complex on the Clinch River. The packages are expected to supply up to 850 MW of electricity, enhancing energy grid reliability and granting TVA’s consumers continuous access to affordable power.

The LM6000VELOX units are slated to begin operation in 2028 and include dual-fuel capability to run on natural gas or liquid fuels when required. The dry low emissions combustor configuration can meet emissions limits in compliance with the regional air district requirements and avoids water consumption for NOx emissions abatement. LM6000 gas turbines also have a quick start-up time, taking only five minutes to reach full power, and a high cyclic life to complement intermittent power from renewable sources. Its operational flexibility helps to stabilize the grid and reduce the risk of electricity supply shortages.

Hydropower Tech & Trends

Hydropower stations house complex rotating machinery that is exposed to environmental elements, varying elevations, and more, day in and day out. But there is no one-size-fits-all turbomachine used in hydropower plants. The three most common hydro turbines include:

• Pelton turbines are used for heads between 200 and 1,000 meters.
• Francis turbines are used for heads between 50 and 300 meters.
• Kaplan units are for heads lower than 50 meters.

Jean-Michel Milles, Hydro Power Head of Engineering at GE Vernova’s Hydro business, discussed trends in the hydropower industry, “In recent years, there has been a focus on increasing the flexibility of the hydropower plant to help increase performance, but more importantly to help stabilize the grid through wider operating ranges, start-and-stops, hydraulic short circuits, and more,” Milles said. “Also, we’ve seen some key innovations such as robotic inspections to improve maintenance activities and fish-friendly turbine designs for environmental purposes.”