General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPortland Now Generates Electricity From Turbines Installed In City Water Pipes
Youd be forgiven if the phrase Portland goes green with innovative water pipes doesnt immediately call to mind thoughts of civil engineering and hydro-electric power. And yet, thats exactly what Oregons 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 citys electrical grid. Known as the Conduit 3 Hydroelectric Project, Portlands 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 in harnessing energy from municipal water pipelines:
https://magazine.good.is/articles/portland-pipeline-water-turbine-power
How will the crazies be threatened by this technology?
Wind either kills birds or generates too much noise or too much wind.
Solar will suck up all the energy from the sun.
ryan_cats
(2,061 posts)Well, that article answered my first question and that is does it increase the load on pumps? No, these are only installed in gravity driven pipes so it's like a penstock in a dam. Very clever.
As for crazies rejecting wind technology, who was against the farm off of Massachusetts?
Lancero
(3,013 posts)I'm going to take a wild guess as to how Mr. Save the Sunshine would see this technology...
"Do you know what happens when a bird gets caught in a jet turbine? The exact same thing happens to the water sent through that pipe. This 'innovation' is killing our water supply"
Delmette
(522 posts)The water distribution system has to be replaced, so they have to start at the beginning of the system. It's a win/win!
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)It only works in water systems that have a higher pressure than they need.
Faux pas
(14,690 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,365 posts)Using water flow to drive a generator is sort of defeating the purpose.
But, where water pressure is caused by gravity, this may be a good idea.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Well done, Portland.