WIND + WAVES IN GULF OF MEXICO

Two New Energy companies with an interest in developing the Gulf of Mexico's wealth of resources are pooling their talents in an incredibly exciting venture.

Hydro Green Energy LLC of Houston, TX, describes its technology as “hydrokinetic power systems.” Call it what they will, it is the harvesting of wave energy. Exciting enough on its own, it is literally only half the story.

Hydro Green Energy has formed an agreement with Wind Energy Systems Technology Group (WEST), an offshore wind developer. Hydro Green Energy will use WEST platforms and lease areas to assess wave energy potentials in the Gulf.

If all goes as expected, the two companies will develop a combination technology to simultaneously harvest wind AND wave energies. It is a brilliant and exciting and yet obvious synergy. The potential exists for the companies to pool investment in costly factors like transmission infrastructure. They can also cut costs for ongoing expenses like maintenance nearly in half. The combined output could be twice that harvested by either New Energy alone, doubling the production of an installation while dispersing the overhead.

One early estimate puts the potential production capacity of a Gulf of Mexico (GOM) wind/wave installation at 5000 megawatts.

If NewEnergyNews sees genius in this synergistic concept it might be because it was one of several potential New Energy combinations proposed here almost a year ago. (See WIND AND SOLAR TOGETHER IN WASHINGTON STATE)

Artist's concept: One of several possible wind/wave energy configurations. (click to enlarge)

Hydro Green, Wind Energy Systems to explore hybrid offshore power projects
Ford Gunter, July 28, 2008 (Houston Business Journal)

WHO
Hydro Green Energy LLC (Wayne Krouse, Chairman/CEO); Wind Energy Systems Technology Group (WEST); the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Quercus Trust

WHAT
Hydro Green Energy and WEST have formed an agreement that could lead to one of the world’s first combination offshore wind and wave energy projects.

Artist's concept: One of several possible wind/wave energy configurations. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- Hydro Green Energy filed permit applications the week of July 21-25 with FERC for wave energy project testing and development that would last 3 years.
- The Hydro Green Energy hydrokinetic power systems will soon be deployed for the first time. It will be the first federally licensed commercial “hydrokinetic power” project.
- Hydro Green Energy plans to build a manufacturing facility in 2009.

WHERE
- WEST holds Texas-granted leases to develop Gulf of Mexico (GOM) offshore wind projects.
- Hydro Green Energy’s permit applications with FERC are for the same waters.
- Hydro Green Energy is based in Houston, TX.
- WEST is based in New Iberia, LA, and Houston, TX.
- The first deployment of the hydrokinetic power systems will be deployed in Hastings, Minn.
- Projects are also under way in six other states, including Texas and Louisiana.

WHY
- Hydro Green Energy is funded by Quercus Trust, recently identified as one of the top 5 venture investors in New Energy.
- Hydro Green Energy describes its ocean energy technology as hydrokinetic power systems.
- Hydro Green Energy filed for10 preliminary permit applications with FERC to do ocean energy testing and development in Texas Gulf of Mexico waters.
- WEST already holds GOM leases for wind power projects.
- The (optimistic) assessment of potential combined wind/wave installations energy production in the areas to be studied is 5,000 megawatts.
- The agreement gives Hydro Green access to WEST platforms and lease areas for research and testing.
- Hydro Green Energy’s planned manufacturing facility is expected to provide ~100 manufacturing jobs.

Artist's concept: One of several possible wind/wave energy configurations. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Wayne Krouse, Chairman/CEO, Hydro Green Energy: “If the data we gather confirms that the Gulf has the currents needed for utility-scale ocean power, we plan to aggressively move forward to develop the world’s first offshore wind-hydrokinetic power projects…”