2010
EPRI Fish Impact Study, April
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A 5kW system was lent to S. O. Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory to perform a comprehensive fish impact study. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) was a key stakeholder in the project.
The 5kW unit operated in a 5m wide test channel that is used for a variety of research. The behavior of two species of fish in the vicinity of the turbine was observed. Blade impacts, delayed mortality, and effect on migratory behaviour were all considered. In the end, no fish impacts were observed. There was some impact on behavior as the fish appeared to be afraid of the turbine rotor in such tight quarters. In a larger channel the fish would likely just avoid the turbine rotor. The full report was published in December, 2012 (EPRI Technical Report: Survival and Behavior of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon and Adult American Shad on Exposure to a Hydrokinetic Turbine).. |
Fort Simpson, North West Territories, Canada - June
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An EnCurrent (first generation) 25 kW Low Flow system, purchased by Northwest Territories Power Corp. (NTPC), went online on the Mackenzie River in Fort Simpson, NT on June 19, 2010.
This project served as a pilot project to prove the technology for use in the northern market. There were candidate sites on the Liard River that offered higher flow velocities and less tendency for debris but it was decided to locate the system adjacent to a power station operated by NT Power. The system had 2.4 m/s design rating but demonstrated the ability to generate power in water velocities in the 1.15 m/s range. In this location, the river freezes in the winter and the system is designed for decommissioning, removal and storage until it is scheduled for redeployed following the spring thaw. In the second year of operation, and with the benefit of New Energy’s training and certification program, the system was redeployed and commissioned in one day. This highlights both New Energy’s end-user training program and the rapid deployment capabilities of the system design. |
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Eagle, Alaska, United States of America - June
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A 25 kW Low Flow unit was installed on the Yukon River at Eagle Alaska in June of 2010. The primary purpose of this project was to demonstrate a Diesel / Hybrid configuration for the community of Eagle. The hydrokinetic power from the New Energy turbine served to augment the existing diesel power plant, reduce diesel consumption and provide backup baseload power when the diesel power plant failed. This site experienced flow velocities close to the design point of 2.4 m/s with correspondingly high power output levels and led to new engineering to mitigate the potential of gearbox overheating. A 100-year flood event upstream of the site resulted in an unusually large amount of debris in the water. This was both a problem and an opportunity and led to new designs for debris protection in fast uncontrolled rivers such as the Yukon River.
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Fundy Tidal, Grand Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada - November
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In November of 2010, New Energy provided a 5 kW system to Fundy Tidal to demonstrate power generation in a tidal environment. A fishing boat was used to tow the unit in the Grand Passage. Measurements were made on power generation in the current and waves in the channel. This was the first tidal power generated in the Bay of Fundy (see Fundy Tidal video). As this was a small system supported by a small boat, an interaction between the boat and waves was observed. Thus for open water, a longer hull length will be required and it is anticipated that a much larger and more robust New Energy system would be deployed in an open water application.
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