Successful test for Hydro Alternative Energy tidal turbines

February 17, 2010

Florida company Hydro Alternative Energy (HAE), Inc., has reported the successful testing of its tidal power turbine prototype at an offshore location.

The company conducted in-water testing for the patent-pending system, positioning the turbine system in a local intracoastal waterway.

HAE said it believed the basic design of the system will shave around two to three years off its research and development, “particularly in view of such successful prototype testing”.

Mark Antonucci, Chief Financial Officer and co-founder of HAE, added: “We are wildly excited about the results of such initial testing, which far exceeded our expectations. Our turbine technology will clearly accelerate our efforts to produce working turbines for clean, low cost electric energy production and deployment in slow moving water in areas not yet currently serviced.”

HAE’s technology has been born out of research from Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Center for Ocean Energy Technology (COET).

The company aims to develop tidal stream power plants initially in the southern Florida area, particularly around the Florida Keys. However, it is also looking at the possibility of developing projects up the eastern coast of the US.

HAE is also eyeing up opportunities in Latin America through a distribution deal with Latin Power Group, Inc.

The HAE turbines have an output of around 50-75KW each, and could be set up in multi-device arrays.

HAE signed a deal back in October with Parametric Solutions, Inc., of Boca Raton, Florida, to help develop and manufacture the turbines.

Chief executive officer Jon Landau said he believed the design of his company’s turbine would allow it to generate more power than originally estimated.

He said tidal stream power would produce predictable power, claiming that it would ultimately be able to generate more power than wind or solar technologies.

Mr Landau said: “The design of the patent pending technology is modular in design, environmentally friendly and unobtrusive to the surrounding area.”

The HAE chief added that the testing of the system was a “significant leap” in its development.