For its part, FERC doesn't see itself as fiddling as much as trying to find the right tune when it comes new hydroelectric technologies. Chairman Joseph Kelliher last year noted, "these technologies present some challenges relating to reliability, environmental and safety implications, and commercial viability."
More projects:
In August 2007 nonprofit research and development firm SRI International and Japanese wave-powered generator maker Hyper Drive Corporation, Ltd., tested a prototype ocean wave–powered generator mounted on a buoy in Florida's Tampa Bay. As the unit bobbed up and down, absorbing energy from the waves, an accordionlike device made of artificial muscle expanded and contracted, creating mechanical energy that was converted into electricity. In the fall SRI will test its more powerful and durable next-generation prototype wave-powered generator.
Finavera Renewables, a Vancouver, British Columbia, renewable-energy technology company, recently signed a contract to deliver power for San Francisco–based Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) by 2012. The deal is North America's first commercial power purchase agreement for a two-megawatt wave-energy project. The PG&E project will be built about 2.5 miles (four kilometers) off the coast of Humboldt County, Calif., for electricity delivery to PG&E's customers throughout the company's northern and central California service territory. Finavera's technology is the AquaBuOY, a floating structure that converts the up-and-down motion of waves into electricity.
The company was also granted a five-year operating license for its one-megawatt Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project in Washington State by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commissionthe first-ever FERC license issued for a wave, tidal or current energy project in the U.S. Finavera is also looking to develop wave-power projects off the coast of Oregon and South Africa, and is determining the feasibility of a five-megawatt wave energy project off the coast of Ucluelet, British Columbia.
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13 Comments
Add CommentI think there is a mistake where it says "That said, a rough cost estimate for Verdant's marine renewable energy technology is up to $3,600 per kilowatt hour"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this$3,600 is 1000* more than other sources cost.
The problem with this energy source is not only the cost ($3600/kw), but also the maintainability/longevity of an undersea generator. The longevity is short (20 years estimated in article)compared to normal hydroelectric power plants (70 - 100 years +); and underwater maintenance would be quite expensive.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNormal hydroelectric plants are a renewable energy source that costs $800 - $1200/kw to build. Canada produces 65% of its electric energy using normal hydroelectric power; the U.S. produces only 10%. Why can't we produce more normal hydroelectric power in the U.S.
Hydrogen energy is too volatile(as in Hindenberg explosion), can an admixture of nitrogen in the right proportions solve the volitility issue without diluting the power thereof?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow much energy would we save if everything shut down one day a week?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow much more effective would the water turbines be if they adopted Tubercle Technology, which is more than just another blade design: It is a fundamental advance in fluid dynamics which will transform a host of machines built on that challenging science. for wind power it doubles the power at 17 mph. Developed from the whale fin design, it should work as well in the water, particularly where low water speeds are encountered. Just when the world needs it most, Tubercle Technology offers new options. Turbines, compressors, pumps and fans. http://www.whalepower.com/drupal/
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm surprised there was no mention of helical turbines developed by Prof. Alexander Gorlov of Boston's Northeastern University. He spent years designing and testing environment-friendly helical turbines to capture power from the Gulf Stream and other currents.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNear-shore ocean currents are a vast, untapped energy resource that could easily meet most of North America's power needs.
David M. Clemen posted:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this[i]"The problem with this energy source is not only the cost ($3600/kw), but also the maintainability/longevity of an undersea generator. The longevity is short (20 years estimated in article)compared to normal hydroelectric power plants (70 - 100 years +); and underwater maintenance would be quite expensive."[/i]
Do not try to compare land-based hydro turbines with those used in ocean or river currents. Underwater turbines would consist of a farm of much smaller, different design turbines that could be lifted out of the water for maintenance.
[i]"Normal hydroelectric plants are a renewable energy source that costs $800 - $1200/kw to build. Canada produces 65% of its electric energy using normal hydroelectric power; the U.S. produces only 10%. Why can't we produce more normal hydroelectric power in the U.S."[/i]
Because building new mega-dams to supply conventional hydro generation requires flooding of thousands of acres of land. It also disrupts riverine ecology. Costs to the environment is unconscionable, and it would be a social and political hot potato.
We must consider new technology that will permit us to operate power run-of-the-river turbines and ocean-based turbines with minimal ecological impact. It can be done for a fairly reasonable cost.
Think of the power of the Gulf Stream, the waters flowing in and out of San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound. That's where the future of power generation is!:-D
TimeTraveler
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this1. If you don't compare them to land based hydro turbines for cost, exactly what do you compare them to for the cost to produce energy. In any case, the comment concerning short life (due to the underwater salt-water environment) and high maintenance costs (compared to any present day generation source) are valid.
2. Presently, you have 80,000 existing dams in the U.S. (Reference Hydro Review magazine, Sept 2007, "National Inventory of Dams), and only 3% of these dams are used to produce electrical power. An additional 20% of the "existing" dams could be used to generate over 30,000 MW (about 30 nuclear plants). We do not have to build new, large dams.
3. I was involved in over 10 "small" hydro projects (not large dams) that the local communities were overjoyed to have. Four were built on existing dams (municipal water suppies, irrigation, flood control), two were on existing lock & dams on the Ohio River, and the remainder were run of river in up state New York. More of these small projects should be advocated.
What is your problem, if any, with these types of hydroelectric generation. They don't require the building of large dams; and they don't interrupt river systems. Moreover, land based hydro plants are the most efficient "renewable" energy source (potential energy of water to electrical energy efficieny exceeds 80%) whereas the free flow turbines are limited by the Betz coefficien (59.6%) unless they have shrouds.
"timetrvlr"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisyou are talking about stupid economics, read SCIAM article "economist has no clothes"
then talk about real costs.
You obviously meant $3600/kw, not kw-hr.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThese turbines turn at variable speed, generating DC at variable voltage. You fail to mention the problem of converting this to constant voltage, constant frequency AC power - store the DC in batteries, from which AC generators are driven, or what? . Is this really economically viable?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe have in La Guajira, north o Colobia S.A. near the Caribean Cost a wind plant producen wind-energy with great succes. Is a private service Company with german or netherland equipments, Is the only pwind plant in this Country.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere is a wind plant in La Guajira north o Colombia S.A near the Caribean Cost that is managed by e private Company with very good result in cost an energy. Around them is a big desert without water or hidraulic energu sources.
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