California utility to explore tidal power in San Francisco Bay
SAN FRANCISCO, California, USA, July 4, 2007. One of California’s electric utilities will conduct the most comprehensive study yet undertaken to assess the possibilities for harnessing the tides in San Francisco Bay.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company has signed an agreement with both the City and the County of San Francisco, as well as Golden Gate Energy Company, to explore the source of zero-emission green power for energy customers in the state. The initial phase of the multi-faceted study will begin this summer and take 12 months to analyse the Bay's energy potential, existing and emerging technologies to capture energy from tidal flows, possible environmental impacts associated with tidal energy, and the economic feasibility and other costs and benefits of tapping this energy supply.
If findings in the initial rounds of research affirm the feasibility and promise of tidal power, future plans could ultimately lead to the development of a full-scale commercial project.
The study effort will use the combined resources of PG&E, CCSF and Golden Gate Energy, with the utility committing to provide US$1.5 million to fund research by third-party experts. CCSF will contribute $346,000 for feasibility studies and stakeholder outreach while Golden Gate Energy, which holds key federal regulatory permits necessary to study the San Francisco Bay location, will work cooperatively to support the effort.
“Exploring the potential for harnessing the tides in the Golden Gate to deliver new supplies of clean power to our customers is one of the most exciting renewable energy possibilities being explored anywhere in the world today,” says PG&E chief executive Tom King. “This effort epitomises the kind of collaborative initiative and innovation that PG&E is committed to, and it's another important way that we are working to lead the energy industry in order to meet clean energy challenges, including climate change.”
“With our own Climate Action Plan that exceeds the Kyoto Protocols, San Francisco is among the most environmentally progressive cities in the country, if not the world,” adds San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, who has made renewable energy his priority. “We all agree that it is imperative that we develop new alternative energy sources like tidal energy.”
In addition to being renewable, tidal power offers the advantage of being predictable and reliable. The technology would be situated on the sea floor, avoiding the land-use and visual impact considerations associated with many other forms of power generation, the utility notes. In a study conducted last year, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) identified San Francisco Bay as one of the world's most abundant potential resources for electricity generation using tidal power technology.
If the study results support development of a project, the undertaking would require governmental regulatory review and approval, including public participation. As a result, the parties estimate that operation of a project would be at least three to five years away.
PG&E's exploration of tidal energy sources supports the utility’s efforts to increase supplies of renewable energy. It is adding green power resources at a rate of 300 MW per year and, this year, it has entered into new agreements to purchase 274 MW of wind, solar, geothermal and other forms of renewables. In addition to exploring the potential of tidal power, PG&E is working to harness energy from the waves off the coasts of Mendocino and Humboldt Counties.
Pacific Gas & Electric obtains 13% of its energy from qualifying renewable sources under California's Renewable Portfolio Standard, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and small hydro. In addition, 50% of the electricity that PG&E delivers to its customers comes from generating resources that emit no or low carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warming.
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