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LPS to make Kootznahoo Inlet site, device selections this year
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Littoral Power Systems, which holds a preliminary permit for the Kootznahoo Inlet tidal power project at Angoon from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said in a June 7 progress report to the agency that it has done survey work and formed an Alaskan advisory board for the project.
Littoral Power Systems, LPS, received a preliminary permit from FERC for the project in June 2021, securing the permit project holder's priority while it studies the project; the permit is good for 48 months.
Turn Point near Angoon is known to have powerful tidal currents, LPS told FERC in its permit application, currents which were studied by the Alaska Power Authority and discussed in a 1981 report by the authority, which looked at power generation options which would allow the City of Angoon to replace on-site diesel generators. Power generation from tidal currents at Kootznahoo Inlet was one of the options considered in the 1981 report, but because of the site's remoteness, "more accurate assessments of the tidal power resource are not available," the company said.
When FERC approved the preliminary permit in 2021, it said the proposed project would consist of a partially buoyant submerged tidal energy converter with a 3-meter-diameter rotor tethered to an anchor post in the seabed in Kootznahoo Inlet, with generation up to 300 kilowatts, dual electric cables connecting to on-land storage and on-land storage at the City of Angoon with individual lithium ion battery cells.
Progress reports In LPS's first progress report, in June 2022, the company said that during the first year of the preliminary permit it:
*Conducted reconnaissance of the project site and met with local stakeholders for input on site selection.
*Did underwater videography and a benthic study of Kootznahoo Inlet.
*Completed an initial velocity confirmation study.
*Confirmed presence of expected marine mammals, fish and wildlife within the site boundaries.
*Determined any unexpected hazards for site selection.
LPS said it also sought local input on subsistence fishing and travel to mitigate any potential for interference from the project.
It also coordinated with Dr. Tom Ravens of the University of Alaska Anchorage to coordinate bathymetric and velocity study of the inlet. In June 2022 LPS said it anticipated doing that study in the summer of 2022, and said once velocity modeling and bathymetric survey were complete, it would be able to narrow final site selection, and then planned to consult local resource agencies, Alaska Native corporations and other interested parties on final site selection, mitigating "any potential for user group conflict with device location."
In its 2023 progress report LPS told FERC it conducted the planned velocity modeling and bathymetric survey of Kootznahoo Inlet and formed an Alaskan advisory board for the project, a board which has already met twice, last August and this February.
LPS said it planned to move forward in the coming year with finalizing device selection and placement, and once final device selection and site location have been determined, will then begin the permitting process with state and federal regulatory agencies.
-KRISTEN NELSON
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