Kinetic Energy to Revolutionize Ohio Power Generation
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Wave Energy Converters (WEC) harvest the kinetic energy from waves, and convert that energy into clean, renewable electrical power. The Electrical Power Research Institute states that wave energy may be one of the lowest cost renewable energy sources, with higher power densities than solar or wind.
Kinetic energy generation
is coming to Ohio, with the
potential to revolutionize the local energy infrastructure and boost
the local economy.
With 312 miles of Lake Erie coastline and a manufacturing infrastructure already in place, the state has the potential to become a leader in developing and manufacturing
Wave Energy Converters.
Oceanic WEC farms are currently being developed around the world. In September, Portugal launched the world’s first commercial wave power project with the goal of meeting the approximate electricity demand of 15,000 households. In Oregon, Ocean Power Technologies Inc. (OPT) and Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative are working collaboratively on the development of the Reedsport OPT Wave Park which will initially generate enough power for approximately 800 households.
Now kinetic energy generation is coming to Ohio, with the potential to revolutionize the local energy infrastructure and boost the local economy. With 312 miles of Lake Erie coastline and a manufacturing infrastructure already in place, the state has the potential to become a leader in developing and manufacturing WECs for the Great Lakes.
Tremont Electric, LLC was founded in May 2007 by Aaron LeMieux to bring the patent-pending kinetic energy harvesting technology, nPower™, to market. Lemieux conceptualized the nPower™ technology while hiking on the Appalachian Trail and wanted to supply reliable power to his handheld electronics without having to carry the extra weight of hazardous disposable batteries. Lemieux set out to devise a means of converting kinetic energy (which he had an excess of) to electrical energy (which he needed), and nPower™ is the result.
nPower™ is scalable and provides a range of product opportunities, from smaller implantable biomedical applications to larger commercial scale WECs. nPower™ harvests kinetic energy from large amplitude, small frequency forces that occur in nature such as human walking or waves. Moreover, since nPower™ technology does not require the large waves that many other WEC systems rely on, nPower™ WECs can be deployed in both lakes and oceans all over the world.
Tremont Electric, LLC and collaborators from the University of Akron and Ohio State University developed a proposal, Wave Energy Convertors Applicable to Wave Energy Densities Found in Lake Erie, and in September submitted it to the Third Frontier Advanced Energy Program. The proposal, centered on nPower™ technology, would develop and demonstrate a pre-commercial 250 kilowatt WEC in Lake Erie with a target goal for commercial electricity production at $.05 per kilowatt hour. The collaboration positions experts of kinetic energy harvesting, Lake Erie fluid dynamics, and electromagnetism in a strategic partnership to begin to bring renewable wave energy to Ohio utilities.
Ohio is among the top states in energy consumption and Ohio’s industrial sector ranks among the highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Ohio Senate Bill 221 mandates that 25 percent of the electricity sold by 2025 must come from advanced energy sources with 12.5 percent from renewables. As of April, only 0.12 percent of the electricity being sold in Ohio is generated from renewable energy sources. Senate Bill 221 has provided a significant challenge to electrical utility companies in Ohio.
nPower ™ technology, as it applies to WECs, is in the incubating stage and capital support is needed in order to transition the technology to the demonstrating stage and eventual manufacturing. Ohio has a unique opportunity to be the leader in renewable energy production and manufacturing by investing in these types of clean energy. nPower ™ WECs will provide a competitive energy solution, and they will have a prime functional location along the Lake Erie shoreline in close proximity to more than 70 manufacturing facilities, terminals and docks.
For more information, contact Tremont Electric, LLC at 440-821-1889 or jdavis@greenpower.com.