Coastal and riverine hydrodynamic energy harvesters with autonomous deployment

Agiltron, Inc. and the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center propose hydrodynamic flow energy harvesting systems with autonomous deployment in coastal and riverine environments. The highly-scalable energy harvester, with target rate of 300W per unit, will be self-deployed and anchoring to various costal and riverine bottoms, and adaptable to these environments over most commonly available range of flow velocities. The non-turbine design is inconspicuous, highly modular, environment friendly, and easy for maintenance, modification, and decommission if needed. Depending on the available hydrodynamic resource, the harvester will operate in standby or harvesting modes, and it will always have a net-gain in energy (power generated is always greater than consumed). The technical approach will be proved in Phase I through numerical analysis, design, prototype fabrication, and wave testing. Prototypes of autonomously deployable energy harvester will be produced in Phase II for open-water testing.