Bourne Energy Introduces Novel Energy Security System
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 29, 2014 -- Conflicts arising over energy, terrorist attacks on oil facilities, the growing number of power failures, massive oil spills and nuclear accidents have brought the issue of energy security to the forefront of world news. Bourne Energy, a developer of hydrokinetic power systems, has recently completed field testing of the RiverStar-BPP whose primary function is to play a role in the upgrade of global energy security. This highly mobile, zero-fuel, energy dense generator offers special purpose options to address a broad range of energy security applications.
The electric power grid in the United States is vulnerable to attacks that have already begun, former CIA Director R. James Woolsey has recently said. He believes America needs distributed generation as backup. “We have 18 critical infrastructures in the United States and everything depends on the electric grid.” Many of these critical infrastructures including the defense industrial base, information technology and government facilities, utilize water intensive processes and are situated on or near rivers. By placing Bourne’s RiverStar-BPP hydrokinetic generator near these key sites they can continue to have access to power even when the grid goes down.
This potential hydropower can be harnessed by Bourne’s RiverStar-BPP unit, a small scale, self-contained, lightweight, zero fuel and energy dense power generator. It is the ultimate power backup - easy to transport, install and operate. The BPP displaces only one cubic meter, weighs 30 lbs and produces 600 watts continuously when placed in water flowing at 4 knots.
Bourne’s RiverStar can operate alone for remote applications or can be interconnected to form denser power arrays for villages, industries and agricultural sites. The unit can be added to current microgrids powered by wind, solar and biofuels to add power and improve overall capacity factor. Microgrids are expected to gain broad penetration in the US power sector where they will prosper in local communities around the country.
Several countries in Asia and Europe have come under geopolitical energy stress to their energy resources. Most of these countries have sizable small to medium scale hydropower potential that can be quickly harnessed by the BPP. In the Developing World some countries are under economic pressure caused by the rising the price of oil. They need affordable, clean, locally sourced power. The BPP can also be modified to provide tidal power for small island nations currently paying even higher prices for oil.
Another important energy security issue is nuclear power. There are 440 nuclear reactors in operation worldwide along with 144 decommissioned nuclear facilities. All of these reactors require cooling systems when in operation and when the unit is offline. This can be a critical problem if there are fires, floods, terrorism or earthquake damage to the grid connection that provides backup power.
The RiverStar-BPP is a quick, powerful and affordable option for improving the world’s current energy security which once installed will also lower overall energy costs, improve air and water quality and reduce political tensions in the world.
C. Catlin, Bourne Energy, http://www.bourneenergy.com, +1 310-456-8112, [email protected]
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