Rentricity completed its first project within an irrigation system in Richmond, Utah. Rentricity’s Flow-to- Wire system including
three turbines, totaling 360 kW, were energized on June 6, 2017 and are located within the Richmond Irrigation Company distribution network. This first-of-a-kind project was designed to upgrade Richmond’s water infrastructure for drought protection and flood control while capturing excess pressure for clean energy generation.
The in-pipe hydropower upgrade was part of a Bureau of Reclamation project designed to eliminate evaporation and seepage in the drought-stricken region. By transitioning to a pressurized pipeline, Richmond eliminated seepage and evaporation losses. The addition of the microgrid to generate power from the pressurized irrigation pipeline creates clean energy which is transported to Rocky Mountain Power’s grid.