The Site C Clean Energy Project will be the third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeast British Columbia, about 7 km southwest of Fort St John. Located downstream from BC Hydro's two existing hydroelectric facilities, Site C will use water already stored in existing Bennett Dam to produce 35% of the power with a reservoir 5% of the size. In addition to activities at or near the dam site, Site C will include a 77 km of transmission line, and will provide 1,100 megawatts to power the equivalent of 450,000 homes per year in B.C.
BC Hydro was looking for a sonar system to detect submerged debris (especially trees) at the entrance or portal to the diversion tunnels during the construction of the earth fill dam. There will be a debris boom in the reservoir to assist in catching debris. However, they would like to have a clearing option (using the crew on site) to help clear the opening by removing any log and large debris from clogging the tunnels. The width in front of the tunnels is approx. 50 m, with depth of water varying from 12 m to 32 m. The entrance to the tunnel is a rectangle concrete box of width 8 m and approx. height of 12 m. (The tunnel itself is a circular 11 m diameter).
KONGSBERG's Dual Axis Scanning (DAS) Sonar and K-Observer monitoring system is the perfect solution to provide persistent surveying of the specified area. Critical parameters of the surrounding riverbed in front of the tunnel opening will be scanned at predefined and variable time intervals to allow for a timely reaction on any changes in these parameters.
Construction on site began in summer of 2015 with project completion scheduled in 2024.