Thousands Of Small Turbines Across The Mississippi River
By Nick April 21, 2008
The Mississippi River could be a huge source of power only if we would know how to harvest energy from its waves. The solution comes from Free Flow Power Corp, a New England-based company, that plans to build thousands of tiny electric turbines.
This a $3 billion project which consists of the installation of the small turbines from St. Louis all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The amount of energy harnessed will be enough to power up about 1.5 million homes which is the equivalent of about 1,600 megawatts of electricity. The company has received preliminary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for testing the turbines in 59 sites across the river.
The turbines measure about two feet in diameter, are made from carbon fiber and they will be set to work by the natural flow of the Mississippi. According to Daniel R. Irvin, Chief Executive of the Free Flow Power Corp., they have three years to demonstrate that the turbines don’t interfere with the wild life and with the natural course of the river.
Mr. Irvin hopes that his company will be able to produce energy as of 2012 but he says that there is a big chance that the project may need five more years to be completed. The developers think that this technology could soon become cost-effective and they will work very hard to make it comparable with oil.
Topics: Energy |
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