Could electric power generated from tidal currents in Passamaquoddy and Cobscook Bays be sufficient to take Eastport and, possibly, Washington County off the power grid? Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) and Eastport officials are betting it can.
To that end ORPC plans to begin commercial power production by October 2009, according to company president and CEO Chris Sauer. His forecast was part of a one-year progress report to Eastport residents on May 22.
In another development, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at neighboring Sipayik in June received a grant to begin testing for a small-scale tidal power project. Power generated from this project would be supplied to the reservation, either for residents or for the tribal sewage treatment plant, according to tribal environment director Stephen Crawford. Adding that testing should begin this summer. He also said he doesn’t expect to generate usable power for at least 10 years.
The $120,000 Passamaquoddy grant came from the federal Interior Department’s Division of Energy and Mineral Development.
In Eastport, Sauer said that despite some glitches – not the least of which was winter and the ice that comes with it – testing continued “pretty much on schedule.” ORPC is based in McLean, Virginia, and typical downeast winter weather came as something of a shock.
The testing has been carried out with a prototype turbine generator unit (TGU) deployed 30 feet below a barge using a retractable frame. Sauer said that the prototype is approximately one-third the size of an actual unit.
Testing has been carried out in the Western Passage of Passamaquoddy Bay and in Cobscook Bay.
Sauer declared the first year’s effort a success – “design feasibility has been confirmed” – but he added, “The turbine efficiency was less than expected, and, as a result, improving the turbine’s efficiency is a top priority.
ORPC spokesperson Cheray de Candia said that in July, the company would test “a different variation of the TGU and [the test] is part of the turbine optimization program.”
“The program includes computer analysis and a subscale testing program to optimize turbine efficiency,” she said. “ORPC has instituted this program with the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, the University Maine, Orono, and the Maine Maritime Academy. This will not alter the commercial output by October ’09 schedule. These tests are anticipated and a part of the program.”
During his progress report Sauer consistently called the project a community effort and particularly cited help from, among many others, the Eastport Port Authority. He called Charlie Leppin, whose responsibilities include tug and operations manager, a “maestro” at the helm of a tug during the towing and placement of the TGU barge in Passamaquoddy Bay’s tricky currents.
Noting that the TGU’s original blades were undersized, Sauer said that Eastport Boat School faculty member Dean Pike suggested a new design based on boatbuilding principles. The new blades were then fabricated at the boat school.
The cooperative spirit and effort were also emphasized by state Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, Eastport City Manager George “Bud” Finch, and Eastport Port Director Chris Gardner. Raye called the project “the fulfillment of a long-held dream.”
Sauer said that an acoustic test had been carried out on April 23. The results had not been released by mid-June, but Sauer said that preliminary indications were “positive.”
Next steps include focusing on commercial viability and Sauer said, “ORPC plans to do the final fabrication, assembly and shop testing at the Boat School.”
Plans also call for the development of a river TGU as well.
Total project costs to date are $1.3 million, according to Sauer. An additional $6 million will be needed.