Cool Idea in Run-of-River Hydrokinetics
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmoVgU93Z44&w=420&h=315]
In this interview, I discuss a radical new approach to run-of-river hydrokinetics where the water is falling far over a short distance, e.g., a waterfall. The company’s solution is extremely straightforward and would be easy for a wily competitor to steal; it is for this reason that they play their cards very close to their vests, and have gone to an almost unimaginable extent to patent their IP internationally. Will anyone win here – besides the patent attorneys, that is? I believe so.
There are many sites around the world where this solution is perfect, and will produce totally clean power, 24/7/365 at an incredibly attractive rate in terms of levelized cost of energy (LCOE), meaning the average cost per kilowatt-hour when all factors are taken into consideration: the construction, the fuel, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning.
The “run of the river” power is best harvested by a caterpillar-like “energy harvester” which floats in the fastest current in the river. I have the conceptual design for such, but no capital to carry it “forward”, as the politicians like to repeat endlessly without a clue as to what it means.