Power and Energy Directly from Water
367
river, or waterfall. Such a structure screens out floating debris, fish, and other large
objects. Microhydropower plants are very popular in poor countries for local power
supply [17–25].
13.2.6.3 Picohydropower Plants
This is generally built in a remote community that requires only small amount of
electricity (<5 kW) [26–32] (Zainuddin et al., 2012, pers. comm.). These types of
setups typically are run-off stream, meaning that dams are not used but pipe diverts
some of the flow and drops this down a gradient and through the turbine before being
exhausted back to the stream. Two examples of picohydropower stations are in the
towns of Kithamba and Thimba in Kenya [26]. Just like microhydropower stations,
these are very popular in poor countries. Both micro- and picohydropower stations
can be improved by custom-designed power-generation systems [31,32] (Zainuddin
et al., 2012, pers. comm.).
13.3 hydrOKinetiC enerGy and POWer GeneratiOn
Fundamentally, hydrokinetic energy is the energy generated from moving water
[34–71]. *,† The power of tidal, river, and ocean currents and ocean waves is tremendous, and the basic concept behind hydrokinetic power is not new. For a century, people have harnessed the power of river currents by installing water wheels of various
sorts to turn shafts or belts [35,49,50]. ‡ Modern tidal/river/ocean current hydrokinetic
machines use new technology that is designed to operate in high amplitude waves and
fast currents. These emerging technologies have the potential to provide significant
amounts of affordable electricity with low environmental impact given proper care in
their deployment and operation [53–60] (Bertsch, 2012, pers. comm.).
13.3.1 Why hydrokineTiC energy?
It is estimated that the amount of hydrokinetic energy that can be feasibly captured
can power 67 million homes [50–60] (Bertsch, 2012, pers. comm.). It is expected
that by 2025, 13,000 MW of power can be generated using hydrokinetic energy
[50–60] (Bertsch, 2012, pers. comm.). This can displace 22 new coal-fired power
plants [57,60]. Just like hydroelectricity, hydrokinetic energy has very little effect on
air and global climate change. They generate power only from the kinetic energy of
moving water (current). This power is a function of the density of water and speed
* Hydrokinetic energy was included as an eligible renewable energy resource by the Energy Policy Act
of 2005. Various funding authorizations for research and development were also included in this Act as
well as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
† Bertsch, D.J., Juris Doctoral candidate, The University of South Dakota School of Law, 2011; Congress
defined hydrokinetic energy as “electrical energy from waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams, or man-made channels; and differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion),” The Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007, 42 USC §17211 (2006).
‡ Hydrokinetic energy was included as an eligible renewable energy resource by the Energy Policy Act
of 2005. Various funding authorizations for research and development were also included in this Act as
well as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
367
river, or waterfall. Such a structure screens out floating debris, fish, and other large
objects. Microhydropower plants are very popular in poor countries for local power
supply [17–25].
13.2.6.3 Picohydropower Plants
This is generally built in a remote community that requires only small amount of
electricity (<5 kW) [26–32] (Zainuddin et al., 2012, pers. comm.). These types of
setups typically are run-off stream, meaning that dams are not used but pipe diverts
some of the flow and drops this down a gradient and through the turbine before being
exhausted back to the stream. Two examples of picohydropower stations are in the
towns of Kithamba and Thimba in Kenya [26]. Just like microhydropower stations,
these are very popular in poor countries. Both micro- and picohydropower stations
can be improved by custom-designed power-generation systems [31,32] (Zainuddin
et al., 2012, pers. comm.).
13.3 hydrOKinetiC enerGy and POWer GeneratiOn
Fundamentally, hydrokinetic energy is the energy generated from moving water
[34–71]. *,† The power of tidal, river, and ocean currents and ocean waves is tremendous, and the basic concept behind hydrokinetic power is not new. For a century, people have harnessed the power of river currents by installing water wheels of various
sorts to turn shafts or belts [35,49,50]. ‡ Modern tidal/river/ocean current hydrokinetic
machines use new technology that is designed to operate in high amplitude waves and
fast currents. These emerging technologies have the potential to provide significant
amounts of affordable electricity with low environmental impact given proper care in
their deployment and operation [53–60] (Bertsch, 2012, pers. comm.).
13.3.1 Why hydrokineTiC energy?
It is estimated that the amount of hydrokinetic energy that can be feasibly captured
can power 67 million homes [50–60] (Bertsch, 2012, pers. comm.). It is expected
that by 2025, 13,000 MW of power can be generated using hydrokinetic energy
[50–60] (Bertsch, 2012, pers. comm.). This can displace 22 new coal-fired power
plants [57,60]. Just like hydroelectricity, hydrokinetic energy has very little effect on
air and global climate change. They generate power only from the kinetic energy of
moving water (current). This power is a function of the density of water and speed
* Hydrokinetic energy was included as an eligible renewable energy resource by the Energy Policy Act
of 2005. Various funding authorizations for research and development were also included in this Act as
well as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
† Bertsch, D.J., Juris Doctoral candidate, The University of South Dakota School of Law, 2011; Congress
defined hydrokinetic energy as “electrical energy from waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams, or man-made channels; and differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion),” The Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007, 42 USC §17211 (2006).
‡ Hydrokinetic energy was included as an eligible renewable energy resource by the Energy Policy Act
of 2005. Various funding authorizations for research and development were also included in this Act as
well as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.