Maine commercial project to deploy tidal energy

The Energy Department on 24 July saw the first commercial, grid-connected tidal energy project U.S.. The pilot operation off the coast of Eastport, Maine, is an investment of $10 million from the Department of energy uses. Ocean renewable power company will provide its first commercial tidal energy device in Cobscook Bay this summer.

Tidal energy is a clean, renewable resource that can be used where ever changing tides move a significant number of water, including on the coasts of many cities in the United States where it high electricity demand. In the vicinity of Maine, one of the most robust tidal energy resources in the world, the Bay of Fundy as 100 billion tons of water flow inside and outside of the Bay is daily. Initially, the pilot project of Cobscook Bay will provide enough electricity from renewable energy sources to power between 75 and 100 houses. In addition to this Department of energy supports pilot ORPC plans to expand his Maine project and install additional tidal energy devices for the supply of more than 1,000 Maine homes and businesses.

This year a published tidal energy resource assessment, identifying about 250 TWh of annual electricity generation from tidal energy nationwide. Tidal energy is a great opportunity for new water power development in the United States, especially along the East Coast as well as in Alaska and Hawaii. See the press release of Ministry of energy and water power program Web site.

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Maine Project Takes Historic Step Forward in U.S. Tidal Energy Deployment

A pilot project that will generate electricity from Maine's ocean tides could be a game-changer for America's tidal energy industry at-large.

At the direction of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, three of the state's electricity distributors will purchase electricity generated by Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC)—the company leading the Maine pilot project. Once finalized, the contracts will be in place for 20 years, making them the first long-term tidal energy power purchase agreements in the United States. The implications of these agreements are far-reaching, helping to advance the commercialization of tidal energy technologies. The project, which has brought more than $14 million into Maine's economy and has created or helped retain more than 100 jobs, is supported by $10 million in funding from the Energy Department.

For the pilot phase of the project, ORPC will deploy cross flow turbine devices in Cobscook Bay, at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. These devices are designed to generate electricity over a range of water currents, capturing energy on both ebb and flood tides without the need for repositioning. To read the complete story, see the DOE Energy Blog.

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Why look not Maine in, Sun, geothermal energy?

Posted at: August 6
Updated: today at 11:17 PM

Pocono Raceway received the Pennsylvania Governor's award for environmental excellence for the development of a three-megawatt, ground-mount photovoltaic solar energy systems, which in September went online. The 25-acre solar installation is the electric main source for Raceway and adds enough power, power nearby houses close to 1,000.

Why Maine ignored official solar power, since it is far less harmful nature as any source? And what is literally flows with energy-source past us: Kennebec River. Why not take advantage of the heat in its water? Hydro heat pumps which will efficiently extract energy are far better than the air surrounding all us that tap. River water varies very little, a great advantage.

Geothermal energy is in the water table, especially in Skowhegan, and probably many other cities.

Revive some electric power pumps are used to, but it is a small cost.

Paul O. Sylvain

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