EPRI River Hydrokinetic Energy Collaborative

Performance Period: 2006 – 2007

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), under the sponsorship of the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), Anchorage Municipal and Light, Chugach Electric and the Village of Iguigig, conducted a study to investigate the feasibility of a technology known as River In-Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) for Alaska river applications. RISEC technology converts the kinetic energy of water in free-flowing rivers into electricity by placing water turbines (similar to wind turbines) directly into the flowing water.
A total of six river sites were selected for site assessment. After careful review, three sites were selected for conceptual level feasibility studies, the results of which are described in this report. The three sites were:

• Tanana River at Whitestone
• Yukon River at Eagle
• Kvichak River at Igiugig

RE Vision performed all technical work on this project, including: (1) site assessment, (2) system-level design, (3) performance, and (4) cost and economic assessment.

Publications

• River In-Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) Characterization of Alaska Sites. EPRI Report ID: EPRI-RP-003-Alaska.
• System Level Design, Performance, Cost and Economic Assessment – Alaska River In-Stream Power Plants. EPRI Report ID: EPRI-RP-006-Alaska