Friday, May 16, 2008

Hydrokinetic Turbines for S-W Ontario?


Wherever water flows there is kinetic energy. Hydrokinetic turbines placed in fast-flowing river channels could provide new clean power sources for many Ontario communities. Two American firms are already developing prototypes to harness international currents on the Niagara River. Read breaking story in BuffaloNews.What's next? Perhaps submerged turbines in the Detroit and St Clair rivers.

Plutonic Power Corp. is on the forefront of "run-of-river" hydro projects in B.C.

Scan other hydro innovations in Economist Magazine. With the turbine/generator unit developed by Open Hydro (an Irish firm), the Saugeen River from the Grey County highlands to the Lake Huron shore could well become a major electricity producer. Even London Ontario might be able to eke out a couple of megawatts through redesign of spillways at Fanshaw and Springbank dams.

Read London writer/producer, Mary Ann Colihan's investigative piece on Verdant Power's installation at Cornwall on the St Lawrence.

Portual and the Orkney Islands are building Atlantic "wave farms."

The United States is about to take a fresh look at hydro power. as part of economic and infrastructure stimulus.