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FERC approves first in-stream hydrokinetic project

Two hydrokinetic turbines, including this one delivered in early December, will be mounted on a barge in the Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota. Credit: Mark R. Stover, Hydro Green Energy

January 2, 2009—The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued its first full license for an in-stream hydrokinetic power project. The project will be located on the Mississippi River, in the output channel of a hydropower dam operated by the City of Hastings, Minnesota. FERC has previously issued only preliminary permits for in-stream, wave, and tidal energy projects, and its only full hydrokinetic license was for a wave energy project.

For the Hastings project, Hydro Green Energy will provide two underwater turbines, each carrying a nameplate capacity of 100 kilowatts and an expected power output of about 35 kilowatts. The project is expected to provide a 70-kilowatt boost in output to the 4.4-megawatt hydropower facility, and the FERC order is technically an amendment to the existing license for the facility.

The turbines will be suspended from a barge, and each turbine will drive a generator that is mounted atop the barge. The barge-mounted power plant is meant to be permanent, but it could easily be removed if any problems are found with the system. Recognizing that there is very little operating experience from in-stream hydrokinetic projects, FERC is requiring the city to immediately modify turbine operation or to remove the turbines or the barge if any adverse environmental effects are found.

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