Breakthrough hydropower technology doesn't require dam or reservoir

subscribe

California-based research and development company Bourne Energy has developed a novel hydropower technology that does not require a dam or reservoir to produce power.

The RiverStar river power system is a 20-foot long self-contained energy module composed of a stabilizer, energy absorber, energy transmission and mooring system and energy conversion and control system designed to be sited in-river in long arrays. The concept behind the RiverStar is to harvest hydropower along the entire length of a river instead of harnessing energy in one massive site using a dam and reservoir.

The system can be applied to each river's environment, culture and commercial activities as seamlessly and invisibly as possible thus opening up vast untapped amounts of hydropower worldwide. RiverStar does not stop or slow natural processes such as fish migration, sedimentation and biological processes, nor does it  prevent other commercial and/or private river traffic.

Bourne plans to build a series of prototypes leading to full-scale demonstrators to promote its utility scale hydropower power systems worldwide.

Hydropower is currently the world's major renewable energy, producing 24% of global electricity. It is also the least expensive energy, having an average cost of 2-5 cents/kWh. But only 4% of the world's gross hydropower potential has as of yet been developed.

Related News

wires logo

Senate Committee Advised by WIRES Counsel That Electric Transmission Still Faces Barriers to Development

WASHINGTON - Today, in a high-visibility hearing on U.S. energy delivery infrastructure before the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, WIRES Executive Director and Former FERC Chairman Jim Hoecker addressed the challenges and opportunities that confront the modern high-voltage grid as the industry strives to upgrade and expand it to meet the demands of consumers and the economy.

In prepared testimony and responses to Senators' questions, Hoecker urged the Committee to support industry efforts to expand and upgrade the transmission network and to help regulators, especially the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, promote certainty and predictability in energy policy…

READ MORE
5g electricity

Is 5G a waste of electricity? Experts say it's complicated

READ MORE

nissan ev parking

Nissan accepting electricity from EVs as payment for parking

READ MORE

nevada solar panels

Nevada on track to reach RPS mandate of 50% renewable electricity by 2030: report

READ MORE

clean electricity standard

Reconciliation and a Clean Electricity Standard

READ MORE