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EBC Energy SeminarTidal Energy Technologies, Opportunities, Challenges

and Testing in Maine

Emission-Free Electricity from the World’s Rivers and Seas

Presented by:

Christopher R. Sauer, P.E.President & CEO

Ocean Renewable Power Company2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 307

Portland, ME 04101

www.oceanrenewablepower.com

Presented by:

Christopher R. Sauer, P.E.President & CEO

Ocean Renewable Power Company2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 307

Portland, ME 04101


Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) is a developer

of tidal energy technology and tidal energy projects

� A Delaware LLC founded in 2004, ORPC is a New England based developer of technology and projects that convert tidal, river and deep water ocean currents into emission-free electricity.

� ORPC executive offices in Portland with satellite offices in Fall River, MA and Anchorage, AK and a project office in Eastport.

� Proprietary ocean current generation (OCGen™) technology.

� Successful demonstration of the technical feasibility of the core component of OCGen™ technology, the Turbine-Generator Unit (TGU), in April 2008.

� Project sites in three of the world’s most promising tidal energy resources (Western Passage and Cobscook Bay, ME and Cook Inlet, AK).

� Planning a tidal and a river deployment of the commercial design of the TGU in the summer and fall of 2009 (pending funding).

ORPC Overview

Two Basic Tidal Energy Conversion Technologies:

� Tidal barrages (dams) are designed to operate like conventional hydropower

facilities. In general, a tidal area such as a bay is impounded and the water flows

through turbines that are installed at the inlet/outlet of the barrage. Tidal barrages

require very large capital investments and take a long time to construct

Primary Advantage: Proven technology with off-the-shelf equipment.

Primary Disadvantage: Impounding tidal areas can cause significant negative

environmental impacts.

� Tidal In-Stream Conversion (TISEC) devices, comprised of rotor blades in

combination with a generator, are designed to capture the kinetic motion (speed) of

tidal currents and convert it to electricity. TISEC devices are essentially a piece of

equipment that is deployed in open waters where there is sufficient current flows to

generate electricity without the need for a barrage.

Primary Advantage: Holds the promise of being the most environmentally benign

method of power generation.

Primary Disadvantage: Technology is still in the development phase.

Tidal Energy Conversion Technologies

Two Basic Types of TISEC Devices Under Development:

� Devices Using Axial Flow Turbines (propeller blades or “windmills under water”)

where the axis of the turbine is parallel to the direction of current flow.

� Devices using Cross Flow Turbines (advanced “paddle wheels”) where the axis of the

turbine is perpendicular to the direction of current flow.

Types of TISEC Devices

Site Specifications �

� Substantial tidal current velocity – preferably peaking at 6 knots (3 m/s) or greater

for both the flood and ebb tides.

� Sufficient depth and width (bathymetry) to provide for deployment of multiple units

and allow for adequate clearance above the bottom and below the surface.

� Reasonable proximity to the electricity grid (substation) or remote power system

(in the case of islands or remote communities).

� Not a highly sensitive area with respect to endangered species or fishing.

� Community support for tidal power development.

What Makes a Good Tidal Energy Site?

Western Passage Cobscook Bay

Regional Opportunities

Tidal energy presents significant opportunities, including:

Abundant Supply of Emission-Free Electricity

� Significant reduction in New England’s carbon footprint.

� 100% of New England’s future electrical needs could be supplied from

tidal energy in combination with other renewable energy projects.

� Potential to create significant renewable energy industry with Maine as a

major supplier of tidal energy to New England.

� Reinforce New England’s reputation as an “eco-friendly” region.

� Create opportunities for “eco-tourism”

Installed Peak Capacity (2015 est.)

HouseholdsEstimated CO2

Reduction

100 MW 36,000145,000 tons

(est. 25,000 autos)

Annual Environmental Benefit

Regional Opportunities (Continued)


Creation of a World Class Ocean Energy Cluster

� Potential to become a world leader in ocean energy (tidal, wave and offshore

wind) through the formation of a ocean energy cluster (OEC).

� OEC expertise could be exported around the world to areas with ocean

energy potential.

� Potential to become the catalyst and anchor customer for the marine

composites industry.

� Significant boost to the marine services industry and bolster the “working

waterfront” initiative in Maine.

Regional Opportunities (Continued)


Long Term and Sustainable Economic Development

� Potential to be a new, significant and sustainable industry creating new jobs,

tax revenues and other important economic activity.

� New jobs would be professional and service related with average salaries

above current average salaries. Such fields include:

• Management and administration

• Engineers, scientists and researchers

• Technicians and skilled labor

• Manufacturing

• Marine vessel operators

• Marine equipment maintenance and repair

� Financial investments include, but are not limited to, project developers,

venture capital funds, investment banks and commercial lenders.

� Financial investments would attract billons of dollars.

Regional Challenges

Tidal energy presents Important challenges, including:

Concerns over Impacts to Marine Environment and Existing Uses

� Ocean energy resources and energy conversion devices present a unique

challenge to developers and regulators:

• Limited availability of information on the marine environment making baselines

difficult to establish.

• To date, all in-water testing of TISEC devices (including ORPC) have not resulted

in negative environmental impacts, however, the testing has been very limited.

� Primary concerns are focused on potential impacts with fish and mammals,

particularly endangered species.

� Concerns with fishermen include loss of “bottom space”

� Concerns will be addressed through a collaborative effort with local agencies

and stakeholders as well as monitoring of TISEC devices

through the technology commercialization and testing process.

Regional Challenges (Continued)


Electricity Transmission Infrastructure

� Tidal energy resources typically exist in areas without

electricity transmission systems or areas that have low

capacities and cannot handle transmission of large

amounts of electricity.

� Grid balancing challenges due to the intermittent supply of

electricity varying with the flood and ebb of the tides, must

be managed by the grid operator (ISO). Partially offsetting

this issue is the fact that electricity from tidal energy

projects can be scheduled since the cycle of the tides is

well known.

� Proper planning and sufficient capital investment in transmission facilities will

allow for aggregating renewable energy supplies and transmission to the

best renewable energy markets.

Regional Challenges (Continued)


FERC Licensing Process

� Ocean energy projects located within 3 nautical miles of the U.S. coast are

regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

� Obtaining a FERC operating license takes several years and is a three-part,

process:

• Preliminary Permit – provides exclusive development rights to the site, subject to

meeting progress standards, for a period of 3 years.

• Pilot Project License – provides a temporary operating license for a project of 5 MW

or less for a period of 5 years.

• Operating License – provides a full license for operating a project for up to 50 years.

� The FERC licensing process is cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming

however, it does provide a single permitting process and site control.

� FERC is actively working to streamline the permitting process for tidal energy

projects.

Summing It Up

Tidal energy presents unique and significant opportunitiesbut with those opportunities comes important challengesthat must be overcome.

Is the viewworth the climb?

Our answer is

Yes!!!

Key Design Features (Patent Applications Filed)

� Generating capacity of up to 250 kilowatts in a 6 knot current (varies with current speed)� Unique proprietary turbine rotates in one direction only, regardless of current flow direction� Two proprietary ADCF turbines drive a single proprietary underwater permanent magnet generator on a

common shaft – direct drive arrangement with no gears (one moving part)� OCGen™ TGU can be shop assembled and shipped to project sites� TGU are “stacked” (horizontally or vertically) and incorporated into OCGen™ modules that contain the

ballast/buoyancy tanks and power electronics/control system (plug & play)� Assembled OCGen™ modules are deployed in arrays comprised of tens to hundreds of modules� OCGen™ modules are held into position underwater using a deep sea mooring system� A power and control cable connects each OCGen™ module to an underwater transmission line that

interconnects with an on-shore substation� OCGen module operations are monitored and controlled from on-shore computers

� OCGen™ modules are brought to the water surface for inspection and maintenance

ORPC OCGen™ Technology

Turbine-Generator Unit (TGU)

Page 15

“Core of the OCGen™ Technology”

Va

rie

s -

10

to

16

Fe

et

Ty

pic

al

Varies – 7 to 12

Feet Typical

Incoming(Flood)

Current

Varies with application – 36 to 107 Feet Typical

Front/Back Elevation Side Elevation

TGU Modular Structural Frame

ORPC Proprietary PermanentMagnet Underwater Generator

ORPC Proprietary AdvancedCross Flow (ADCF) Turbines

Outgoing

(Ebb)

Current

ORPC OCGen™ Technology

OCGen™ Module Deployment

Vertical (4x1) Configuration Horizontal (2x2) Configuration

Turbine Generator Unit (TGU)

Prototype Demonstration Project Summary


� Turbine Generator Unit (TGU) Demonstration Project commenced July

2007 and “Energy Tide 1” launched in December 2007

� Initial testing completed in April 2008 (testing ongoing)

� The prototype TGU is approximately 1/3 the physical size envisioned for

large-scale tidal energy projects.

Page 8

ORPC Western Passage Site (Eastport, ME)

The Technical Feasibility of the TGU has been demonstrated!

� Turbine Generator Unit (TGU) design feasibility has been confirmed.

� TGU self-starts (under load) in current speeds under 2 knots.

� TGU generates electricity continuously until current speeds fall below 1 knot.

� TGU has been stress tested - in current speeds up to 8 knots - with no excessive

vibration or deflection.

� Peak electrical output in the expected range of 15 to 25 kilowatts.

� Prototype TGU met or exceeded expectations in 10 out of 12 criteria.

TGU Demonstration Project

Summary of Results

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