Briefing on Caribou 1

Caribou 1, a venerable 74 MW conventional hydroelectric plant in California, has demonstrated a significant 56% increase in generation over the past six months, underscoring its continued operational relevance and strong recent performance.

Overview

• Plant Name: Caribou 1

• Status: Operating since 1921

• Technology: Conventional Hydroelectric

• Location: California

• Parent Company: PG&E

• Operator/Owner: Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Operational Details

• Capacity: 74 MW

• Number of Generators: 3

• Annual Generation: 221 GWh

• Capacity Factor: 34.1%

• Recent Generation (Q4 2024): 22 GWh (Oct), 28 GWh (Nov), 35 GWh (Dec)

• Generation Trend: Increased by 56% over the past 6 months compared to the prior 6 months

Grid Integration & Financials

• Grid ISO: CAISO (California)

• Grid NERC: WECC

• Balancing Authority: California Independent System Operator

• Capital Expenditure (CapEx): $1846/kW (Source: ferc)

• Operating Expenditure (OpEx): $24.3/MWh (Source: ferc)

• Financial Data Span: 8 years (2015–2024)

Comparative Landscape

• Similar Plants: Cresta, Loon Lake, W E Warne

• Nearby Plants: Caribou 2, Oak Flat, Butt Valley

Caribou 1 is a long-standing conventional hydroelectric plant with a strong recent generation trend, indicating robust performance despite its age. Its financial metrics, sourced from FERC, provide a clear cost profile within the CAISO grid.