One of the world’s oldest means of generating electricity is continuously undergoing innovative changes. Energy derived from the flow of water is exciting people all over again as new technologies emerge and people see lucrative opportunities for investment. Marine current turbine technology or tidal energy is in the development stages, but it garners a great deal of attention due to its believed ability to generate massive quantities of electricity. The technology is being implemented, experimentally, in New York City’s East River. They work much like underwater wind turbines, utilizing the power of tidal currents rather than wind to turn the blades.

While new technologies grab the alternative energy world’s attention, old technologies such as dams, hydroelectric plants, and Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity hold their ground as the most prolific generators of clean energy. Large hydro plants generated 58% of the world’s renewable energy in 2005. Small hydro added another 5%. The unmistakable force of flowing water has provided us with a great deal of power throughout the history of electrical generation, and if the current level of excitement surrounding new technologies translates into further development, we can be assured that hydroelectric will remain dominant among renewable energy solutions.

Although hydroelectricity is a mature industry in the United States, there are still opportunities for new facilities. If you have a hydroelectric plant that was built before 1997, PurePoint Energy can assess whether your generating facility should be updated to take advantage of higher efficiency, Renewable Energy Credits, and/or Carbon Credits. PurePoint Energy has experience developing and managing industrial hydroelectric dams. If you are interested in developing a new hydroelectric facility or assessing new profit enhancing solutions for your existing plant, PurePoint Energy's professional staff can provide ways to optimize your output and bottom line.