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FERC receives preliminary permit application for Deep Ocean Pressure project

FERC receives preliminary permit application for Deep Ocean Pressure project

Stirling T. Hebenstreit has submitted a preliminary permit application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for hydrokinetic energy production from the Deep Ocean Pressure waterpower project (P-15320).

The preliminary permit application was submitted to FERC on June 19.

The site for the project is Commencement Bay in Pierce County, Wash.

The energy system consists of a galvanized steel or reinforced repurposed ocean plastic structure for use with Marine Mammal Protection Zone (MMPZ) pylons and a raised subsea terrain foundation. Water intakes provide deep ocean pressurized water to the turbine-generator, and a raceway pipe leads to a water collection compartment in combination with a surface air vacuum pressurized compartment to allow for a higher pressure and water eductors to expel water. The pilot provides subsea direct current distribution to power monitoring control units and energy storage battery banks at the surface floating platform. The surface platform transports energy storage battery banks for interfacing with small and industrial scale business.

There are no reservoirs. The surface platform has a freeboard of 11 ft above mean sea surface. The energy storage battery banks are an additional 8 ft high and sit atop the platform. The site would feature one floating barge type platform and one subsea energy system (DeepTeK).

Total average annual energy production from a rated capacity of one 1.67 MW turbine-generator unit is 973,579,392 kWh and assumes 85% hydrokinetic efficiency, equaling 827,542,483.2 kWh.

The purpose of a preliminary permit is to preserve the rights of the permit holder to have the first priority in applying for a license for the project that is being studied. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permittee to access lands and does not authorize the permittee to undertake any land-disturbing activities. Permit conditions are framed to ensure the permittee does not tie up a site without pursuing in good faith a study of the project’s feasibility. If the project is found to be feasible, the permittee can use the data and information gathered to prepare an application for a license.