Portland Now Generates Electricity From Turbines Installed In City Water Pipes

Lucid Energy is a provider of renewable energy systems and a pioneer in the development of in-pipe hydropower with the LucidPipe Power System. The LucidPipe™ Power System uses a patented, in-­pipe turbine generator to capture the energy of fast-­moving water inside of large, gravity-­fed pipelines, converting it into a continuous source of low-­cost electricity.

Portland has replaced a section of its existing water supply network with Lucid Energy pipes containing four forty-two inch turbines. As water flows through the pipes, the turbines spin and power attached generators, which then feed energy back into the city’s electrical grid. Known as the “Conduit 3 Hydroelectric Project,” Portland’s new clean energy source is scheduled to be up and running at full capacity in March. According to a Lucid Energy FAQ detailing the partnership, this will be the “first project in the U.S. to secure a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy produced by in-pipe hydropower in a municipal water pipeline."