Limerick demonstrates unique way to generate clean, reliable energy from free-flowing water
A SMALL vessel in the Shannon River in the city could be mistaken as a boat but is actually a unique energy device as part of the +CityxChange Project.
The unit is a hydrokinetic energy converter that can generate clean, reliable electricity from the natural kinetic movement found in free-flowing water. There are no dams or permanent civil infrastructure needed and it can be easily relocated or removed if needed.
Above the surface, all that can be seen is a low-profile platform which houses all the electrical equipment for the unit. Underneath the water are two vertical-axis hydrokinetic turbines that are turned by the force of the water to generate predictable, local energy.
When running at full capacity, the 12kW unit currently on display can output enough power to meet the full electrical needs of 17 Irish homes. In remote communities with lower energy usage, one turbine can power an entire village of 80-90 homes.
This highly innovative demonstration is part of an EU-funded smart cities project called ‘+CityxChange’ which is led by two Lighthouse Cities; Limerick and Trondheim (Norway).
The aim of the project is to achieve sustainable urban ecosystems that have zero emissions and establish a 100% renewable energy city-region by 2050. This turbine demonstration aims to highlight the significant untapped energy potential in our free-flowing waterways such as rivers, canals, estuaries and tidal streams and to prove that it is possible to harness this energy with little-to-no negative impacts and in a way that is harmonious to the society and environment.
Being a zero-carbon, renewable energy device means it can deliver instant carbon emissions reduction, offering a feasible alternative where other generation solutions may not be suitable. Unique to hydrokinetic technologies is the predictability of the supply. Unlike solar or wind, the power output can often be fully predictable meaning a reliable baseload supply, energy security and certainty of payback and return on investment.