Rutherford Creek Power Project

Pemberton, British Columbia

In 2002, Vinmart Global began work on this “run-of-river” 50-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric project comprising water intakes, a 5.5-mile pipeline, and a powerhouse and switchyard, providing power generation without imposing a negative impact on the natural habitat. The new facility generates enough electricity annually to provide power for approximately 7,000 households, and offset between 70,000 and 130,000 tons of annual carbon dioxide generation.

Under an EPC contract, the scope of work included water diversion and storage to submerge the intake pipes, while minimizing landscape disturbance. After being routed through the powerhouse, all water is returned to natural flow into the creek. Quantities included 600,000 cubic meters of excavation, 9,000 cubic meters of cast-in-place reinforced concrete, installation of 3 kilometers of 2.4-meter-diameter HDPE pipe, installation of 6 kilometers of 2-meter-diameter steel pipe and two 25-MW pelton wheel turbine/generators.

In addition, the design accommodates a world-class kayaking training facility constructed adjacent to the powerhouse. This facility includes a classroom, and a channel with weirs, baffle walls, boulders and anchor pads. This new power source is a non-consumptive, non-polluting, and renewable means of generating electricity. Additionally, the project met the requirements of B.C. Hydro’s green energy procurement program.