Please Note: In order for a site to be cost-effective, its waters must have currents of at least 2 meters per second (6 ft/sec, 4 knots), AND its depth should be at least 9 meters (30 ft.)

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Please note: In order for a site to be cost-effective, its waters must have currents of at least 2 meters per second (6 ft/sec, 4 knots), AND its depth should be at least 4 meters (13 ft.)

KHPS Turbine: A central component of the KHPS is the KHPS Turbine, which is a “free flow” technology designed to convert energy from natural flowing water currents, such as oceans, tides, and rivers. KHPS turbines are submerged completely underwater in small or large numbers and do not require any dams, impoundments or other major civil works. More »

Click Here to view a schematic drawing of a KHPS turbine.

Click Here to view a computer rendering of a KHPS field operating underwater.

They are cost effective. The systems are modular in design and can be tailored specifically to the maximize the characterstics of a particular site and produce the most cost-effective power.

They are simple. The KHPS was developed with an imperative for simplicity and ruggedness, decreasing capital, operations and maintenance costs; and enhancing the technology’s commerical viability. Additionally, KHPS do not require any dams, impoundments or other major civil works, making them safe for fish passage, causing minimal public impact, and enhancing their applicability across the globe, especially in developing countries.

Specific benefits of the KHPS Turbine are that they…

• Consume no fossil fuels and emit no greenhouse gases;
• Have high capacity factors (ranging from 30 to 90 percent) and capacity values,
  because of the predictability and reliability of tidal currents and river flows;
• Will have competitive installation cost/ kW ($2,000-$2,500)
• Produce power near point of consumption, using indigenous clean resources
• Ultimately will facilitate compliance with Renewable Portfolio Standards;
  In addition to energy production, can provide other ancillary community-based services such as reverse osmosis systems for desalinization and potable water; pumping for irrigation and oxygenation of anoxic waters; and electrolysis for hydrogen production.

For example, the site of Verdant Power’s RITE Project is the East Channel of the East River, which has average water depths of 30 feet and tidal currents of approximately 2 meters per second. Consequently, the KHPS turbine’s height is 19.7 feet (6 m). Its length is 5.8 feet (4.8 m). It is equipped with a rotor that is 16.4 feet (5 m) in diameter and a generator that is rated at 35 kW. In deeper and faster waters, larger diameter rotors and bigger generators can be used.

Generation data from this single RITE Project turbine showed that the unit had an average power output during tidal generation periods of 14.5 kilowatts (kW) and generated power to the grid 77 per cent of the time (RITE is a tidal power project). This equates to an average energy production of 270 kilowatt hours (kWh)/day, 8.1 megawatt hours (MWh)/month, or 97 MWh/year.

Based on this average energy production, this single tidal turbine is generating enough energy for 16 average New York State residences. Ultimately, Verdant Power hopes to install 200-300 similar turbines at the RITE Project site.