Credit: lucidenergy.com
You’d be forgiven if the phrase “Portland goes green with innovative water pipes” doesn’t immediately call to mind thoughts of civil engineering and hydro-electric power.
And yet, that’s exactly what Oregon’s largest city has done by partnering with a company called Lucid Energy to generate clean electricity from the water already flowing under its streets and through its pipes.
Portland has replaced a section of its existing water supply network with Lucid Energy pipes containing four forty-two inch turbines.
As water flows through the pipes, the turbines spin and power attached generators, which then feed energy back into the city’s electrical grid. Known as the “Conduit 3 Hydroelectric Project,” Portland’s new clean energy source is scheduled to be up and running at full capacity in March.
According to a Lucid Energy FAQ detailing the partnership, this will be the “first project in the U.S. to secure a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy produced by in-pipe hydropower in a municipal water pipeline.”
A short promotional video describes the technology and benefits involved […]
This is really cool, and worth keeping an eye out for. Though there would have to be a balance struck between generating energy while providing ample water pressure to customers, I imagine there are portions of a water distribution system that have to down regulate water pressure to avoid damaging customers water pipes/valves. Those sections of a system would be good candidates for the type of treatment described in the article. Thanks for the food for thought Stephan, I hope projects like this are successful and spread.