FED MONEY FOR HYDRO ENERGY

DOE awards millions for marine and hydrokinetic energy technology
September 10, 2010 (HydroWorld/PennWell)

"…$37 million in [federal] funding [is attended] to accelerate the technological and commercial readiness of emerging marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies, which seek to generate renewable electricity from the nation's oceans and free-flowing rivers and streams.

"The 27 projects range from concept studies and component design research to prototype development and in-water device testing. This unprecedented level of funding will advance the ability of marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies to contribute to the nation's electricity supply…"

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"The nation's ocean waves, tides, currents, thermal gradients and free-flowing rivers represent a promising energy source located close to centers of electricity demand. The Department of Energy is working with industry, universities, national laboratories and other groups to develop technologies capable of harnessing these resources to generate environmentally sustainable, cost-competitive power. The Department of Energy will leverage private sector investments…by providing cost-shared funding to industry and industry-led partnerships…

"Ocean Power Technologies, Inc…will deploy a full-scale 150 kW PowerBuoy system in the Oregon Territorial Sea and collect two years of detailed operating data…"

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"Ocean Renewable Power Company…will build, install, operate and monitor a commercial-scale array of five grid-connected TidGen devices on the sea floor in Cobscook Bay off Eastport, Maine, in two phases over three years. The project will advance ORPC's cross-flow turbine tidal energy technology, producing a full-scale, grid-connected energy system and will gather critical technical and cost performance data …

"Public Utility District No.1 of Snohomish County (Everett, Washington) will deploy, operate, monitor and evaluate two 10-meter diameter Open-Centre Turbines, developed and manufactured by OpenHydro Group Ltd, in Admiralty Inlet of Puget Sound. The project is expected to generate 1 MW of electrical energy during periods of peak tidal currents with an average energy output of approximately 100 kW…"