The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) and Lucid Energy, a provider of
renewable energy systems for in-pipe hydropower and smart water
infrastructure, have flipped the switch, officially turning one of the
city’s major water pipelines into a generator of renewable energy. The
LucidPipe™ Power System uses the gravity-fed flow of water inside a PWB
pipeline to spin four 42” turbines that are now producing electricity
for Portland General Electric (PGE) customers under a 20-year power
purchase agreement (PPA) with the utility, helping promote renewable
power development and resource diversity for Oregon. The system, which
was installed at no cost to PWB or the City of Portland, is the first
project in the U.S. to secure a 20-year PPA for renewable energy
produced by in-pipe hydropower in a municipal water pipeline.
The system will begin full energy production within the next two months.
LucidPipe has been tested and Certified by NSF International to NSF/ANSI
Standard 61 for use in potable water systems. It does not disrupt
pipeline operations and has no environmental impact.
“PGE’s goal is to be our customers’ partner in helping to build a
reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future for Oregon,” said
Brett Sims, PGE’s director of origination, structuring and resource
strategy. “We’re pleased to integrate new generating technologies and
applications like this into our system when they offer cost-effective
solutions for our customers and the environment.”
“The Water Bureau welcomed the opportunity to explore the innovative use
of a Portland pipe delivering water to create hydroelectric power as
well,” said Water Bureau Administrator David Shaff. “Water and energy
are closely linked. The Lucid pipe system provides a way for the Water
Bureau to contribute to generating electricity for our community in a
clean, low-cost and renewable way.”
The Portland LucidPipe system was fully financed in October 2014 with
capital from Harbourton Alternative Energy, a subsidiary of Harbourton
Enterprises. The project will generate approximately $2 million worth of
renewable energy capacity over the 20-year PPA period, enough
electricity for more than 150 homes in Portland. The Portland Water
Bureau and Harbourton will share in the revenue. After 20 years, PWB
will have the right to own the system and all the energy it produces.
“Water agencies are looking for ways to be more energy efficient, energy
utilities are seeking more renewable sources of energy and investors are
seeking opportunities in smart water and energy infrastructure,” said
Gregg Semler, President and CEO of Lucid Energy, Inc. The industry is
looking to Portland as an example of how all of these entities can
partner to take advantage of in-pipe hydropower to generate investment
returns and reduce the cost of delivering clean, safe drinking water.”
The first installation of the LucidPipe Power System is at Riverside
Public Utilities in Riverside, California. Lucid Energy is currently
exploring opportunities with municipalities, water agencies and
renewable energy investors from around the world.
Lucid Energy has secured private funding from a very active syndicate of
investors including Northwest Pipe Company, the Israeli hybrid venture
capital/crowdsourcing platform OurCrowd, Star Energy and the Harbourton
Fund as well as more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of
Energy. The funding is being used to accelerate commercialization of the
LucidPipe Power System worldwide.
About Lucid Energy
Lucid Energy, Inc. is a provider of renewable energy and smart water
management solutions that improve the economics of delivering water.
Lucid Energy’s patented LucidPipe™ Power System enables industrial,
municipal and agricultural facilities to generate clean, reliable,
low-cost electricity from their gravity-fed water pipelines and effluent
streams. Lucid Energy codeveloped the technology with Northwest Pipe
Company (NASDAQ: NWPX), the largest manufacturer of steel water
transmission pipe in the United States. www.lucidenergy.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2015