Demand for Hydropower Surges Amid Rising Electricity Costs

The Great Lakes region, known for housing one of the world’s largest freshwater supplies, is positioned to integrate next-generation hydroelectric generators at a time when electricity prices are escalating across the United States.

Supporters advocate that the implementation of submersible hydroelectric technology in the Great Lakes could play a vital role in advancing clean energy, particularly in light of the increasing demand and cost associated with electricity.

This region is not only home to significant freshwater reserves but also hosts major urban centers including Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and Detroit, where electricity consumption is on the rise. Although the Great Lakes themselves lack substantial tidal or current activity, several connecting waterways present opportunities for energy generation.

Recently, the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), recognized for its innovative hydroelectric projects in Alaska and Maine, announced its inaugural urban initiative on the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. This project will feature two hydroelectric devices expected to commence operations later this year.

According to ORPC CEO Stuart Davies, “The St. Lawrence River is one of the best opportunities in North America for our technology because it has consistent, high-velocity water for hundreds of miles. In the Montreal area, there’s 60-90 megawatts of resource potential alone.”

The global interest in current- and tidal-powered hydroelectric generation is rising. For instance, Scotland is home to the world’s most robust tidal hydro generator, capable of supplying power to approximately 2,000 homes, while South Korea's Sihwa Lake tidal power station produces around 550GWh annually.

North America is beginning to close the gap in this field, with Orbital Marine Power, the operator of the Scottish project, disclosing plans to launch up to three O2-X tidal devices in Nova Scotia’s Minas Passage.

Additionally, ORPC is poised to initiate a second hydropower project in the Great Lakes, this time on the Niagara River in Buffalo, New York, later this year.

This increasing focus on marine power generation aligns with a notable rise in electricity prices throughout the Great Lakes region. In September, the New York Public Service Commission authorized significant rate and delivery charge increases, impacting customers particularly in western New York, with further increases projected for later this year and in 2027.

Similar challenges are being faced in Michigan and Ohio, where disagreements between public administrators and communities are heightening concerns related to energy demands from data centers.

Despite the substantial electrical requirements of large data storage facilities, which often exceed the capacity of ORPC’s devices generating between half to five megawatts, Davies sees opportunities for industry engagement. “If you’re an industrial customer and you’re thinking about the growth of AI, we can be that 24/7 electricity resource that’s part of a baseload,” he remarked.

However, these initiatives encounter obstacles and controversies. The city of Montreal and Quebec have a rich history of hydropower, resulting in low-cost electricity, contrasting with the experience of cities and states in the U.S. surrounding the Great Lakes, where securing the necessary licenses for hydroelectric facilities can take around eight years.

Furthermore, the installation of turbines in biologically rich waterways has raised environmental concerns. McCooey from the Black Rock Riverside Alliance in Buffalo remarked, “We are not opposed to hydrokinetic energy, but it must be responsible. You can’t harness energy while harming the environment.”

ORPC asserts that its turbines do not adversely affect fish populations in locations where they have been deployed, including Alaska, where these devices provide power to a small community.

In addition, scientists are pursuing adaptations of hydroelectric technologies for slower-moving waters. For example, a University of Michigan professor is testing a technology known as Vivace, which can extract energy from water flowing at speeds as low as half a meter per second at the site where Lake Huron transitions into the St. Clair River.

The outlook for hydropower within the Great Lakes region is optimistic. As technology continues to progress and the demand for clean energy increases, the challenge will be ensuring a balance between innovative solutions and environmental protection.