In current hydro power.

B

BCO

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Why doesn't Eishkom look at this kind of thing?

http://www.hgenergy.com/current+.html

It's a turbine that hangs underneath a floating pontoon. Basically, hydro power without needing to build a dam. Our bigger rivers like the Orange, Vaal and Tugela have plenty of water year round. Arrays of 20 or so 350kW units (a 20 unit array would be 7MW) at multiple key points along these rivers could generate substantial power.
 
Considering Eskom once load shedded themselves, well need we say more?
 
Would be a good idea. There was a discovery program about something similar which the put into the water surrounding Manhattan. Completely submerged though. The river bent the first few man-sized propellers they tested.:D
 
Our rivers are quite small compared to the ones where these are normally used.

And in Winter when we really need the extra power, the rivers carry even less water.
 
HavocXphere said:
Would be a good idea. There was a discovery program about something similar which the put into the water surrounding Manhattan. Completely submerged though. The river bent the first few man-sized propellers they tested.:D
Click to expand...

Yeah I saw that. The problem with those is the cost and difficulty of having to secure the thing to the bottom of a riverbed.

@ gifs - I don't think that water levels dropping should affect these, as the pontoon floats and thus drops with the water level. In other words, if it's specced and sited correctly, the turbine should always be under water generating electricity. Also, you don't need massive amounts of water to turn a 350kW turbine.
 
They'll also have to make them tsotsi proof. Else someone is going to paddle all the way to China with those pontoons & sell it for scrap metal.
 
It is easier sitting in an airconditioned head office and getting a couple of mil for well sitting there being the CEO of an ineffective parastatal. The energy sector should be deregulated.
 
Sounds good. But will never be used. No way to award BEE contracts to suppliers for not supplying.
 
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