A26 BEHIND THE NEWSTHE FOLD SOURCE OF ENERGY

Planning the

Blade Tailcone Hub Main shaft seal nextA company wants to generate wave electricity with tides

Nacelle Generator

Nosecone

How it works Bearing n A three-bladed rotor turns Housing at up to 32 revolutions per minute Speed depending on the flow of water. increaser Low-speed (gearbox) Mounting n Speed increaser, a gearbox flexible ring that multiplies the rotor motion. coupling High-speed n The gearbox drives a three-phase coupling induction generator that produces Nacelle/ a peak 16-32 kilowatts of electricity. y July, a Gristedes Pylong flange on n Gearbox and generator should be drawing are in a waterproof, power from an unusual streamlined enclosure. Faired outer pylon source — a turbine under Bthe East River being driven by the ebb Pylon is bolted via an adjustable n and flow of the tide. adapter to a pile fixed to bedrock A Virginia company, Verdant Power, in the river bottom. Dimensions has received the go-ahead to place n Underwater cables, held in place the first two of six turbines in a channel by concrete weights, carry of the East River to test whether they alternating current to shore, can generate electricity efficiently where they are connected Length without disturbing the environment. to the power grid using One turbine will send power to the standard equipment. 15.8 feet supermarket and a nearby parking garage. The other will house monitor- ing equipment to gauge performance. If all goes well, four more turbines Watching will be installed soon for an 18-month test that could lead to 200-300 of the devices. out for fish Height Turbine 19.7 feet Verdant is hoping that several rotors Human characteristics of their turbine plan diameter being Air power will make them more fish-friendly: 16.4 feet 6 feet Unlike underwater n The blades turn slowly — 32 rpm. turbines, wind turbines A conventional hydro-turbine point nose and blade turns at 600-700 rmp and is brutal into direction of energy on fish. source. Wind turns blades Going with the flow at about 8-21 revolutions n They're spaced out. The turbines per minute, causing power are between 40 and 100 feet apart, Streamlined pylon pivots in the direction of the tide train to produce current. Power Train allowing more open space for fish so power can be generated when tide Pylon (pivots to avoid them. is moving in or out. Pat of win h d with wind n They are relatively small. direction) The pilot project takes up an area that is 77 feet wide and 217 feet long, less than an acre altogether.

Verdant is also studying fish patterns: n Six months before installation: The company has been using fixed and mobile hydroacoustic transducers, and netting batches of fish as well, to determine the normal amount and kinds of fish passing through the test area. n For 18 months during the test: Eighteen hydroacoustic transducers will be deployed with the test turbines to monitor fish behavior and impact. Other Studies In addition to monitoring the effect Path of the turbines on fish, the company of tide will be studying: Navigation and security n Fixed Pivot n Recreational resources pylon point n Historical resources n Water quality Roosevelt Island Placement ver They will be spaced two to a row, 40 feet There will be 6 feet of water under the t Ri apart east to west, with 100 feet between turbine rotor at all times and 5 feet above ve. Eas row (north to south). it at the usual low-water mark. Location k A d. Yor The initial six turbines will be installed just Blv north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge, which E 6 non 2 Ver links the island to . If the project nd St is fully built, turbines will run from . 59t the 59th Street Bridge to the northern h Test area Stre end of the island. et Bridge

ver t Ri Roosevelt Island St. QUEENS Eas

11th 0MILES 0.55

QUEENS East River

NEWSDAY PHOTO / JULIA GAINES SOURCE: VERDANT POWER LLC

NEWSDAY, TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2006 www.newsday.com