Second hydrokinetic power system makes a splash in remote Alaskan village

The U.S.-based marine energy developer ORPC has deployed its second RivGen power system in Alaska to harness the currents of Kvichak River to produce clean and renewable energy for the residents of the Village of Igiugig.

Late in August 2021, ORPC successfully deployed the second RivGen device that will be undergoing commissioning over the next month.

During that phase, an energy storage system and smart microgrid controls will also be installed, while the device is expected to become fully operational this autumn, ORPC confirmed.

Contrary to earlier reports, the second RivGen will not immediately be operating alongside the first RivGen device that was deployed in 2019, since the latter was retrieved ashore last month for detailed inspection in accordance with the scope of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technology Office project.

Beforehand, the device also underwent maintenance and inspection operations on the water with trained local community members assisting in performing these tasks.

The first RivGen device, which set a record for the longest operating technology of its kind in the U.S., survived two winters that have included frazil events, river surface ice, and ice out from Lake Iliamna undamaged.

According to ORPC, the company expects to redeploy the first RivGen device in 2022.

The lessons learned from the first year of deployment in harsh Alaskan environment have also been incorporated into the design of a second RivGen device, ORPC noted.

“We’ve worked with our vendors to reduce fabrication complexities to improve build quality and reduce costs. We’ve implemented small design changes to improve field operations and make on-water installation easier, and we’ve made modifications to the turbines and structural assembly to increase durability and mitigate against the accumulation of ice during mid-winter operations”, ORPC said earlier.

The second ORPC’s device installation in Alaska is enabled by a multi-year project supported in part by funding to the Village of Igiugig from the U.S. DOE’s Water Power Technology Office, and Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, as well as private investment.

ORPC’s RivGen power system has generated growing interest by remote communities globally looking to replace their diesel generation systems with the highly predictable, baseload renewable energy system, according to ORPC.

More than two billion people worldwide have limited or no access to electricity, and 700 million of them rely on diesel fuel to operate their local grids.

However, the RivGen power system generates emission-free electricity from river currents and connects directly into existing remote community grids using smart grid technology.

It consists of three major subsystems including shore-side power electronics, mooring system, and turbine generator (TGU) device.

The technology is capable to significantly contribute to the energy transition from fossil fuels to clean power solutions, especially in the remote and off-grid communities which have no or limited access to electricity.

For example, the two RivGen devices, operating together, with both energy storage system and smart microgrid controls in place will enable the community of Igiugig Village to reduce its diesel consumption by 60-90%, ORPC claims.

Therefore, the company will for its RivGen technology initially target markets of remote communities in Alaska, Canada and Chile located near river and tidal resources, which represent a $15 billion market opportunity.

“ORPC’s RivGen power system is competitive now in these places, and offers a no carbon, low noise option, positively impacting local economies and enhancing eco-tourism opportunities”, ORPC said.

Worth noting, ORPC recently secured $25 million in investment commitments from a consortium led by Canadian Shield Capital in alliance with Hatch.

Proceeds of the raise will be used to finance ORPC’s growth including the installation of multiple devices in its targeted markets and to further strengthen the company’s ability to meet global demand for climate change solutions, clean energy jobs and environmental and energy justice.