Eco Factor: Underwater turbines to generate renewable energy.
Hydroelectricity is definitely a greener alternative to the energy generated in coal-fired power plants. However, mostly all hydropower plants rely on the dams to act as water reservoirs allowing the generation of large amounts of energy. However, building dams isn’t as green as the end result is. Seattle-based Hydrovolts Inc. has developed a new technique which can be used to generate electricity from water without the use of dams.
The system is based on the use of a FlipWing turbine that can generate electricity in shallow waters. The turbine is essentially is paddle wheel system that is entirely underwater. The turbine’s blades have a hinged mechanism that fold backwards on the upstream stroke, reducing drag.
The system can be used to generate electricity in irrigation canals and aqueducts. The company is now working on three different turbine sizes that can serve particular locations. Hydrovolts believe that their system can generate up to 4KW of energy and would cost around $14,000 when the turbines go on sale in summer 2010.
Via: Discovery/CleanTechnica
