Hydro Expansion Studies at Holtwood and Safe harbor

The Holtwood (108 MW) and the Safe Harbor (230 MW) run-of-river hydro projects on the Susquehanna River have normal maximum plant discharge capacities of 32,000 cfs and 65,000 cfs, respectively. The flow in the river exceeds these discharge capacities about 38% and 16% of the time; and at those times the water is normally wasted over the spillways. The most promising schemes for increased generating capacities are to: (1)Build an additional powerhouse at Holtwood; and (2)install additional units in five existing bays of the Safe Harbor Project, thereby increasing their generating capabilities to 296 MW and 417.5 MW and discharge capacities to 92,000 cfs and 110,000 cfs, respectively. If materialized, the schemes would provide an average annual additional 308,000,000 kWhr and 184,000,000 kWhr of energy production at the two projects with optimum utilization of the water resource of the Susquehanna River.