Five Renewable River Power companies making waves
Having spent many years on rivers and oceans, I am very pleased to see these five renewable energy companies pursue the power behind the current in water. Keep an eye on them. They are quickly coming into the commercial market with some great ideas to harnise the power of currents.
Founded to produce cheap, clean, renewable energy from moving water without building new dams or diversions (hydrokinetic generation). We have developed a turbine generator designed to extract energy from tides, ocean currents, rivers, streams, canals and conduits. We plan to develop energy projects, initially in rivers in the United States and ultimately in a wide variety of free flow environments throughout the world. Our team of employees, consultants and strategic partners bring together dedication to our mission and values and the diverse skills and experiences required to make the vision of hydrokinetic generation a reality.
Helping to build sustainable communities around the world. A renewable energy company, Verdant Power seeks to generate mechanical and electrical power in a cost-effective manner, causing minimal or no ecological impact, and with consideration for social equity.
A Houston renewable energy project developer and technology integrator that designs, builds and operates hydrokinetic power projects that generate electricity exclusively from moving water (river currents, tidal currents and ocean currents) without having to construct dams, impoundments or conduits. Hydro Green Energy’s technology platform can also be deployed at existing hydropower projects (called Hydro+™), which bolsters the output of the existing project in an environmentally-sound manner with a cutting-edge technology.
Vortex Hydro Energy:
VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibrations Aquatic Clean Energy)
A novel approach to extract energy from flowing water currents. It is unlike any other ocean energy or low-head hydropower concept. VIVACE is based on the extensively studied phenomenon of Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV), which was first observed 500 years ago by Leonardo DaVinci in the form of “Aeolian Tones.” For decades, engineers have been trying to prevent VIV from damaging offshore equipment and structures. By maximizing and exploiting VIV rather than spoiling and preventing it, VIVACE takes this ‘problem’ and transforms it into a valuable resource for mankind.
Hydrovolts is developing revolutionary in-stream hydrokinetic turbines that generate renewable energy from fast-flowing water currents. The turbines are dropped into and secured in the open channel – it is not necessary to divert the flow or construct new channels. The turbines produce 1 to 5 kW each depending on the current velocity. They can be scaled up or down and deployed in groups to make more power.
HYDROKINETIC GENERATION
HISTORY OF HYDROPOWER
Humans have extracted energy from moving water for at least 2,500 years. In 1881, the City of Niagara Falls diverted water above the falls to a turbine to generate electricity for its street lights to create the first large scale conventionally hydroelectric facility. Approximately 20% of the world’s electricity is now provided by hydropower. Canada, Norway and New Zealand produce the majority of their electricity from hydro. In 1940 approximately 40% of the U.S.’s electricity came from conventional hydro facilities. Now, less than 10% of U.S. generation comes from the 2,000 conventional hydro plants currently in operation.
Conventional hydropower still represents 75% of the renewable energy generated in the U.S or about 7% of total generation. It accounts for 20% of worldwide generation. Conventional hydro relies on dams or diversions to create “head” that concentrates the energy of the water through a turbine system. Consequently, lack of available dam sites and concern over the impact of dams or diversions have limited its growth.
FREE FLOW GENERATION
“Free Flow” or “hydrokinetic” generation captures energy from moving water without requiring a dam or diversion. While hydrokinetics includes generation from ocean tides, currents and waves; we believe its most practical application in the near term is likely to be in rivers and streams.
A Policy Statement issued on November 30, 2007 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission included the following statement:
“Estimates suggest that new hydrokinetic technologies, if fully developed, could double the amount of hydropower production in the United States, bringing it from just under 10 percent to close to 20 percent of the national electric energy supply. Given the potential benefits of this new, clean power source, the Commission has taken steps to lower the regulatory barriers to its development.” (FERC Policy Statement, Docket No. PL08-1-000).
