Headwater Benefits

Headwater benefits studies require Berger's energy experts to acquire, review and interpret daily flow, generation and storage data for each project site studied. In addition, Berger staff analyzes anticipated annual energy gains from each storage project and the fees each project should pay to FERC.

The Osage River Basin contains five federally-owned storage reservoirs, one federally owned hydroelectric project and a privately-owned hydroelectric project. The projects are located in a series downstream from the storage reservoirs making it necessary to model the reservoir operations of each hydroelectric project separately. Berger is working with the hydroelectric project owners, the local United States Geological Survey, the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies to develop data sets for each reservoir and hydroelectric project. Once the data sets are complete, Berger energy experts will conduct a daily simulation of the river basin using the Headwater Benefits Energy Gains (HWBEG) model to determine the energy gains from the regulated flows for the privately-owned hydroelectric project. Upon completion of the data sets, Berger will assist FERC in calculating the headwater benefits. In similar assignments for FERC, Berger is completing HWBEG studies for the Upper Mississippi, Lower Arkansas, Merrimack, Savannah, Ohio and Allegheny River Basins, and developing screening reports to determine potential energy gains for the Tennessee and Trinity-San Jacinto River Basins and the Florida Peninsula.