Dec 14 2010
National Currents Energy Services has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a preliminary permit to assess the feasibility of River Salem as a likely location for a novel tidal turbine.
This turbine would be powered by the flow of the river and generate electricity. After the filing of the application, a 60 day waiting period would follow. During this period, applications from competitors, motions to intervene, public comments and notices of intent for submitting other applications would be allowed.
According to Roger Bason, Natural Current’s President, it was still in its early stages, and that the company was seeking to assess the site to find out how best a tidal system could be mounted. As per a notice given by FERC, the planned project would be located in the Salem River between the union of Fenwick Creek to the Mid-Atlantic port terminal in the south and Salem County Memorial Bridge at the North. This particular spot on the river is tidal in nature and the flow is extremely strong during both the incoming and outgoing tides. Bason also revealed that the investigation was ongoing and site assessment would take place in a few weeks. He further mentioned that an assessment period of three years is allowed by the permit.
According to Bason, these turbines were actually a new technology and electricity is generated based on the speed of water, i.e. tide flowing via the turbines and not the height. The turbine blades move with the speed of the flow of the river and do not depend on the rise and fall of the tide. He also mentioned that they do not need any dams to be constructed and hence have minimal impact on the environment. They were also fish-friendly. The assessment would determine the number of tidal turbines to be installed; the number could be between 10 to 30 turbines with a capacity of 100 kW each.
Source: http://www.naturalcurrents.com/