Hydro Kinetic energy is fats replacing dams and those giant structures that obstruct the free flow of rivers. The new free flowing technology makes sure that we harness the power of the rivers without altering their natural flow. Flow Power Corporation, a Massachusetts-based startup, has an idea that the river’s flowing current could be used to generate electricity. The project will require $3 billion and if everything falls into place, it could light up 1.5 million homes and put two coal-fired power plants out of business. Which means instead of the Mississippi being used to move coal, it will actually be sparing coal.
The technology would work with many hydro energy harnessing turbines that respond to the flow of the river. Thousands of small electric turbines would be placed strategically in the riverbed from the Gulf of Mexico to all the way upstream. These two-feet in diameter turbines would be spun by the flow of the river and the energy would be collected. While the company has been granted permits by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to study selected areas of the river, the investigation is estimated to take three years, with the river project up and running by 2012.
While there are growing eco concerns about the project and both its ecological and economic implications, one surely hopes that it takes off and that the project is a giant success as it could save the planet from tons and tons of carbon emissions and that is truly green.
