CURRENT ENERGY PROJECT APPROVED, A U.S. FIRST

Hydrokinetic energy is the energy in moving (kinetic) water (hydro). It can be captured from waves, tides and ocean and river currents.

Hydrokinetic energy can be put to work. Rivers have, for centuries, turned waterwheels and carried watercraft downstream. Hydroelectric dams are a familiar site on rivers around the world. A tidal energy “barrage” has been generating electricity on the Rance River estuary at Bretagne, France, since 1966.

The world’s first modern, utility-scale hydrokinetic energy installation went into operation off the coast of Portugal in September. (See THE FIRST WAVE FARM IN THE WORLD)

The first U.S. hydrokinetic energy project has, after years of preparations and testing, been licensed to Hydro Green Energy by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Hydro Green Energy works across the spectrum of hydrokinetic energies and is developing projects in 7 other states. Its first licensed project will use Mississippi River currents to generate electricity for the small town of Hastings, Minnesota, 20 miles south of the Twin Cities, just downstream from an existing hydroelectric dam.

Installation of the 2 Hydro Green Energy 100-kilowatt generators will be overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The modest new electricity capacity represents a small beginning for a big New Energy source. Some contend it could eventually in all its forms provide 10-to-20% of U.S. power.

One thing about the groundbreaking project is not small. Hinting at the hurdles hydrokinetic energy will have to get over to win its place in the U.S. energy mix, the federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is requiring extensive environmental impact studies, including monitoring of water quality, monitoring and protection of aquatic life and habitat with special attention to the protection of zebra mussels, and monitoring and protection for river avian life and habitat.

Hydro Green Energy is required to be prepared to immediately modify or cease its operations if monitoring reveals adverse effects.

The generator. (From Hydro Green Energy - click to enlarge)

Hydro Green Energy project approved
December 17, 2008 (UPI)
and
US FERC approves hydrokinetic project on Mississippi River
15 December 2008 (Platts)

WHO
US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) (Joseph Kelliher, Chairman); Hydro Green Energy LLC (Wayne F. Krouse, chairman and chief executive officer); the Army Corps of Engineers

WHAT
FERC has licensed the first U.S. hydrokinetic energy project, a Hydro Green Energy current energy installation on the upper Mississippi River.

The location at Hastings seen from above. (From Hydro Green Energy - click to enlarge)

WHEN
- FERC issued its approval December 13.
- The Corps of Engineers approved the project in November.
- 2 generating installations will be placed, one in December 2008 and the other in April 2009.

WHERE
- The project will be on the Mississippi River at Hastings, Minn., 20 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
- Hydro Green Energy is developing other hydrokinetic projects in Alaska, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York and Texas.

WHY
- The electricity generated will be used by the city of Hastings.
- Hastings will have 2 hydrokinetic generators downstream of an existing hydroelectric dam.
- Installation from a floating barge will be overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers.
- Each of the 2 hydrokinetic generators will have a 100 kilowatt “nameplate capacity” and put an average of 364 megawatt-hours/year to the local grid through Hastings' existing transmission infrastructure.

Seen from the river. (From Hydro Green Energy - click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Wayne F. Krouse, chairman and chief executive officer, Hydro Green Energy: "The commission has made history with the Hastings Order. Hydro Green Energy fully applauds all of the commissioners for their leadership, as well as their commitment to ensuring that the United States enjoys a cleaner and more secure energy future…"
- Joseph Kelliher, Chairman, FERC: "[This project] is an exciting one for everyone because it combines the use of innovative hydrokinetic technology with a conventional hydropower dam… This is a creative solution to meeting electricity demand using renewable resources, and I congratulate the City of Hastings for moving
forward with the idea…"