Glencliff Micro-Hydro Project, Randolph, Vermont

The state-owned, off-grid Glencliff Home in New Hampshire’s rural White Mountains provides residential, long-term medical care to up to 120 residents. The facility relies on a micro-hydro system to provide up to 25% of its electricity and uses diesel-fueled generators for their remaining power. To address less-than-optimal and expensive interruptions in the system’s power production, DuBois & King, with the support of Scott+Partners Architects, provided design services to Glencliff staff and NHDAS to address issues with the facility’s micro-hydro power plant to increase electrical output, address numerous maintenance issues, and improve the system’s operations to make the system a more reliable source of renewable electricity.

D&K successfully designed improvements to the micro-hydro system, and Scott+Partners supported the project by designing architectural upgrades to the system’s powerhouse. The project forced the D&K team to “think small” and address challenges a micro-hydro system has that are not as consequential when working with a traditional, larger hydroelectric facility. Improvements include a new Pelton wheel with a cleanout port and relocated bypass valves and piping, more energy-efficient heating and cooling options in the powerhouse, and the addition of remote system controls to assist the staff to operate the system more efficiently.