Tennessee Valley Authority
Technology Research Area:
Melton Hill Dam Sustainable Recreation Area
TVA is evaluating and showcasing how renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, storm water management, use of recycled coal combustion products, electric vehicle charging, and recycling can be retrofit within an existing TVA recreation environment.
The Melton Hill Dam and Sustainable Recreation Area near Lenoir City, Tenn., is now equipped with solar panel and wind turbine installations to generate clean, renewable electricity. Other technologies such as LED lighting, solar water heating, motion controlled lighting, and low flow water fixtures are integrated to reduce electrical and water usage and lower site operating costs. Pervious walkways made with recycled coal combustion products are integrated to reduce storm water runoff, electric vehicle charging stations are included to support use while visiting the site, and single stream recycling is integrated within select day use areas and camp sites. TVA is researching and evaluating these sustainable technologies for beneficial performance in the recreation environment, technology transfer to other TVA recreation sites, and showcasing for public and stakeholder education.
In collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, a performance data dashboard has been developed to provide live measurements of daily and monthly energy that is produced and utilized onsite.
You can view the live or historic performance data at the dashboard. Also, within the dashboard you can learn more about the sustainable technologies installed and their benefits to the environment.
To create the sustainability project, TVA blended new technologies into existing infrastructure and a natural setting at the Melton Hill Dam and Recreation area.
These enhancements include:
- Photovoltaic solar power arrays on pavilions, pergolas, and pole mount configurations
- A 70 ft tall wind turbine
- Solar-powered LED street lights and entrance sign
- Solar water heating in the campground bath house
- Low flow fixtures in buildings
- LED lighting and motion lighting sensors
- Building and landscaping materials made from coal combustion products
- Stormwater management techniques to filter runoff
- Electric vehicle charging stations
For more information on each of these technologies, please visit the Melton Hill technologies page.
Technology Sharing with You and Our Partners
TVA estimates that the annual renewable power generation and energy efficiency improvements across Melton Hill Dam Recreation Area have the potential to offset approximately 36 percent of the total power demand of the site. As visitors enjoy recreation at Melton Hill, they will now be consuming less energy and less water than in the past. Visitors use of the site amenities will also help TVA evaluate and test the performance of the sustainable technologies.
TVA is collecting research data on both the total energy consumption at the site and the performance of each technology. One example is evaluating the performance of six different types of solar photovoltaic panels side by side installed on the water front pavilion. Click here to access the dashboard which provides live measurements of daily and monthly energy that is produced and utilized onsite
TVA’s vision for the Melton Hill Dam Sustainable Recreation Area is to become a model for other TVA recreational sites, as well as federal, state and local recreation lands that TVA doesn’t manage. The Technology performance data that is available on the dashboard is a source for other public recreation agencies use to meet their sustainability goals and make better technology investment decisions.
