Verdant Power

Verdant Power, Inc. is a United States renewable-energy technology company that develops and installs systems for generating electricity from tidal currents and other flowing-water resources. Its technology is centered on submerged turbines that resemble compact, three-bladed wind turbines. Instead of relying on dams or large impoundments, the turbines are placed in moving water and use the kinetic energy of currents to drive electrical generation. Verdant uses the term “kinetic hydropower” to distinguish this approach from conventional hydropower based on dam construction and from tidal projects that depend on barrages or other major civil works. The company was founded in 2000 and is associated most closely with the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project, commonly known as RITE, in New York City’s East River. Verdant’s base on Roosevelt Island places its development work close to the project site, in a tidal strait connecting Long Island Sound with Upper New York Bay. RITE became a long-running demonstration platform for testing turbine designs, subsea installation methods, array configuration, environmental performance, grid connection, and the practical challenges of operating equipment in a strong urban tidal channel. RITE progressed through prototype testing beginning in 2002. Early installations in 2006 and 2007 were followed by a larger 2007 demonstration in which six full-scale turbines were installed in three rows on the riverbed. Five of those machines incorporated 35-kilowatt generators. The installation has been described as the first grid-connected tidal-turbine array to operate commercially at a test site, supplying electricity to a Gristedes supermarket and the adjacent Motorgate parking facility on Roosevelt Island. The test concluded in October 2008 after producing approximately 50 megawatt-hours of electricity. The project also exposed the engineering and commercial difficulties of tidal power. Turbine blades and other components must withstand strong, reversing currents, underwater access constraints, marine growth, sediment, and the limited availability of maintenance windows. A federal agreement announced in 2012 contemplated a 30-turbine array with a projected capacity of approximately 1.05 megawatts. Blade degradation and other technical issues affected the timetable, while a redesigned turbine tested in September 2012 produced encouraging results. The company subsequently continued an incremental development strategy rather than immediately building the full planned array. A major later step came in October 2020, when Verdant installed a TriFrame platform carrying three 70-kilowatt fifth-generation turbines. The system supplied power to Consolidated Edison’s local grid. After six months, one turbine was replaced by a fifth-generation unit using thermoplastic blades developed with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The European Marine Energy Centre assessed the turbines under the relevant International Electrotechnical Commission power-performance standard, providing a formal basis for evaluating output. Verdant has also pursued opportunities outside the United States. Through a joint venture with Duggan Energy called Verdant Isles, the company planned grid-connected turbines at the Morlais tidal-energy site in northwest Wales. Verdant Isles received a Contracts for Difference award in September 2023 for a first phase intended to supply electricity to the Great Britain grid, with 4.9 megawatts targeted for commissioning in the 2027–2028 period. These activities position Verdant as a specialist technology developer and project participant rather than a conventional utility. Its business scope includes turbine design, deployment, demonstration projects, performance assessment, and the development of tidal and river-current generation projects.

Verdant Power was established in 2000 as a developer of systems that extract energy from moving water without constructing conventional hydroelectric dams. The company’s principal technology consists of underwater turbines with three blades, conceptually similar to wind turbines but designed for dense, turbulent, and reversing water flows. Verdant describes the approach as kinetic hydropower and applies it to tidal currents as well as precipitation-driven river currents. The company’s defining undertaking has been the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project, or RITE, in New York City’s East River. The site lies east of Roosevelt Island, near the boundary between Manhattan and Queens, in a tidal channel that carries water between Long Island Sound and Upper New York Bay. RITE became the company’s primary test and demonstration location and was the first tidal-energy project to receive a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The initial RITE phase involved prototype testing from 2002 through 2006. Two early prototypes were installed in late 2006 and early 2007, but their performance was not fully successful. Verdant then moved to a larger demonstration. In May 2007, six full-scale turbines were placed on the riverbed in three rows. Five turbines used 35-kilowatt generators. The array was connected to the local electricity system and supplied power to a nearby Gristedes supermarket and the Motorgate parking garage on Roosevelt Island. The test ended in October 2008 after generating about 50 megawatt-hours, demonstrating grid connection while also revealing the difficulty of maintaining underwater equipment in a demanding tidal environment. A further expansion was discussed in 2012, when the federal government announced an agreement involving 30 turbines. The proposed array was projected to produce 1.05 megawatts and was initially associated with a 2015 operating target. The schedule was affected by technical problems, particularly degradation of turbine blades. Verdant tested a redesigned turbine with a 16-foot diameter in September 2012 and reported a successful result. Rather than treating the early demonstration as a finished commercial product, the company continued using RITE as an iterative engineering platform. Public reporting in 2013 described a plan to add two more turbines and build the array progressively. The next important stage came in October 2020, when Verdant deployed a TriFrame platform carrying three fifth-generation turbines. Each turbine was rated at 70 kilowatts, and the platform delivered electricity to Consolidated Edison’s local grid. After six months of operation, one machine was replaced with another Gen5 turbine fitted with thermoplastic blades developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The European Marine Energy Centre subsequently assessed the turbine performance under the applicable International Electrotechnical Commission standard for electricity-producing tidal-energy converters. Verdant later broadened its project pipeline internationally. In Wales, it formed Verdant Isles with Duggan Energy to pursue turbines at the Morlais tidal-energy site in northwest Wales. In September 2023, the joint venture secured a Contracts for Difference award for a first phase intended to deliver electricity to the Great Britain grid. The phase was described as a 4.9-megawatt project targeted for commissioning in the 2027–2028 period. Across its history, Verdant Power has remained a technology and project-development company rather than a vertically integrated utility. Its work has concentrated on turbine engineering, underwater deployment, array design, testing, grid integration, and the commercial development of predictable marine-energy resources. The RITE project’s long testing history reflects both the promise of tidal generation and the substantial reliability, maintenance, regulatory, and cost challenges that have constrained large-scale deployment.

• 2023

  Morlais project secured CfD support

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  Verdant Isles received a Contracts for Difference award for a 4.9-megawatt first phase at Morlais in Wales.

• 2020

  TriFrame Gen5 platform deployed

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  A three-turbine, 70-kilowatt-per-turbine Gen5 TriFrame platform was installed and connected to Consolidated Edison’s local grid.

• 2012

  Expanded array proposed

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  A federal agreement contemplated 30 turbines with projected capacity of approximately 1.05 megawatts.

• 2008

  First RITE demonstration concluded

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  The initial full-scale test ended in October after generating approximately 50 megawatt-hours.

• 2007

  Grid-connected tidal array operated

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  Six full-scale turbines were installed in the East River, with five equipped with 35-kilowatt generators.

• 2006

  Early RITE prototypes installed

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  The first two reported RITE prototypes were installed in late 2006 and early 2007.

• 2002

  RITE prototype testing began

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  The Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project entered its initial prototype-testing phase in New York’s East River.

• 2000

  Company founded

  [1]Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org

  Verdant Power was established as a developer of tidal and kinetic-hydropower systems.

A specialist developer of non-dam kinetic hydropower technology, focused on converting predictable tidal and river currents into grid-connected renewable electricity.

• Tidal-current power system · 2002

  RITE tidal turbines

  The RITE system is Verdant Power’s principal demonstration platform. It uses submerged, three-bladed turbines positioned in the East River to convert tidal-current energy into electricity. The project has supported prototype testing, full-scale array operation, grid connection, blade development, and evaluation of maintenance and environmental requirements.

• Tidal turbine · 2020

  Gen5 tidal turbine

  The fifth-generation turbine is a later Verdant design used in the TriFrame deployment. The reported configuration rated each turbine at 70 kilowatts. One unit was subsequently replaced with a Gen5 turbine using thermoplastic blades developed with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

• Turbine platform · 2020

  TriFrame platform

  TriFrame is a platform configuration designed to carry three tidal turbines. Verdant deployed one in the East River in 2020, where it provided power to Consolidated Edison’s local grid and served as a basis for continued performance assessment.

• Hydroelectric technology

  Kinetic hydropower systems

  Verdant’s broader technology family captures energy from tidal or river currents without relying on conventional dams. The systems are intended for predictable flowing-water resources and can include turbine equipment, deployment structures, electrical connections, and project-level integration.

• 2023

  Expand into the Welsh Morlais projectStrategy

  Background

  Verdant pursued international project development through Verdant Isles, its joint venture with Duggan Energy.

  Action taken

  The joint venture secured a Contracts for Difference award for a first phase of grid-connected turbines at Morlais in northwest Wales.

  Aftermath

  The supported phase was described as targeting 4.9 megawatts for the Great Britain grid, with commissioning planned for 2027–2028.

  Source

• 2020

  Deploy the Gen5 TriFrame platformGeneration change

  Background

  Verdant continued improving turbine reliability and performance after earlier RITE testing and blade issues.

  Action taken

  The company installed a TriFrame carrying three 70-kilowatt fifth-generation turbines and connected the platform to Consolidated Edison’s local grid.

  Aftermath

  After six months, one turbine was replaced with a Gen5 unit using thermoplastic blades developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The European Marine Energy Centre assessed performance under the relevant IEC standard.

  Source

• 2012

  Pursue incremental expansion of the East River arrayStrategy

  Background

  A proposed 30-turbine array faced delays and blade-degradation problems, making staged technical development important.

  Action taken

  Verdant tested a redesigned 16-foot turbine and continued planning for a larger array rather than relying solely on the earlier prototype configuration.

  Aftermath

  The project remained a long-term demonstration and development effort; later reporting described plans for additional turbines and continued buildup.

  Source

• 2007

  Proceed with a full-scale grid-connected RITE demonstrationProduct launch

  Background

  After prototype work beginning in 2002 and early installations in 2006–2007, Verdant moved to a larger East River demonstration.

  Action taken

  The company installed six full-scale turbines in three rows, with five fitted with 35-kilowatt generators, and connected the test array to local electricity users.

  Aftermath

  The demonstration generated approximately 50 megawatt-hours before ending in October 2008, while also exposing the operational challenges of underwater tidal equipment.

  Source

1. 1Verdant Poweren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Verdant Power official websiteverdantpower.com