Using the vast network of irrigation canals across the US, a startup energy company has raised $18 million to expand its network of turbines that can each generate enough electricity to power a small town or a college campus, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and utilizing an existing untapped resource, the Associated Press reports.
The turbines generate energy at the locks located along the 1,600 miles of canals that stretch across the US, particularly in mid-western and western states, that divert water from sources to water the nation’s agricultural infrastructure. Canal locks change water levels by filling a chamber until it reaches the desired height; opening one lock gate allows the water to equalize with the new depth. The turbines generate as much as 10 megawatts of electricity by capturing the power of the flowing water as the locks open and close.
The technology can also be used in isolated, rural areas where smaller generators can be installed to power agricultural operations. Because it does not require extensive infrastructure to operate, the turbines would benefit agricultural communities in a similar way windmills are utilized.