New Energy’s proprietary EnCurrent Turbine converts the energy inherent in moving water into electricity. The technology is based on the Darrieus wind turbine, also called an eggbeater or whisk turbine due to its shape. The EnCurrenttm Turbine is a cross-flow turbine, meaning that the direction of rotation is perpendicular to direction of water flow.

The EnCurrent Turbine is basically an underwater windmill, converting the energy in water currents into electricity. The Turbine is coupled with a permanent magnet generator and an inverter to provide complete water-to-wire EnCurrenttm Power Generation System.

The turbines can be installed into man-made canals, rivers and tidal currents. New Energy also provides a set of ancillary products that support the installation of the EnCurrenttm Power Generation System into all of these environments.

New Energy currently has 5, 10 and 25 kW models of the EnCurrent Power Generation System available and is working to have both 125 and 250 kW models available by Q1 of 2010.  The 5 kW system is capable of providing electricity for two to three average homes. The 25 kW system is capable of providing electricity for up to twelve average homes. Power plants of over 500 kW can be constructed using multiple units.

When the turbine rotor is placed within a water current, the hydrofoils generate a lift vector in the forward orientation which can be captured at the shaft as a positive rotation.

The hydrofoils experience their maximum forward torque at the top and bottom of their rotation, when the water moving past them is tangential. The turbine rotates in the same direction regardless of the direction of the water current and captures between 35% and 40% of the energy in moving water. It rotates at a very low speed, between 2 and 2.5 times the speed of the water in which it is submerged. One of the unique properties of the Darrieus Turbine design is that it is able to capture the energy from the water irrespective of the direction of the current. This property enables the EnCurrenttm Turbine to harness the energy contained in both flood and ebb tides.

A permanent magnet generator is mounted on the turbine shaft to convert the torque generated by the rotor into electricity. The output from the permanent magnet generator is a variable voltage AC signal which is rectified to DC and fed into an inverter. The inverter takes the DC signal as input and provides an AC output. Different inverters can be used to provide the appropriate power for the regulatory requirements of any given area in the world.

The EnCurrenttm Turbine is basically an underwater windmill, converting the energy in water currents into electricity. The Turbine is coupled with a permanent magnet generator and an inverter to provide complete water-to-wire EnCurrenttm Power Generation System.

EnCurrenttm Power Generation Systems are robust, well engineered systems with a design life of 25 years. The turbines have an extremely small environmental footprint and eliminate fish impact for hydroelectric power generation. The drive-train and generator are positioned above the water-line for system longevity and ease of maintenance of the systems.

New Energy currently has 5, 10 and 25 kW models of the EnCurrenttm Power Generation System available and is working to have both 125 and 250 kW models available by Q4 of 2009.

New Energy is currently shipping 5, 10 and 25 kW models of its proprietary EnCurrenttm Power Generation Systems. The 5 kW system is capable of providing electricity for two to three average homes. The 25 kW system is capable of providing electricity for up to twelve average homes. Power plants of over 500 kW can be constructed using multiple 25 kW units or with the 125 and 250kw units.

The EnCurrent Turbine is available in a free-flow and restricted flow configuration. The free-flow configuration is optimized for installation in a fast flowing current. A restricted flow configuration is optimized for installation in sites which can provide up to 1.4 meters of head differential.