ORPC files FERC draft pilot license application for Alaska tidal project site

The East Foreland site has the highest potential for tidal energy development in the US, and ORPC has chosen it specifically to accelerate the commercial growth of the industry. Through the American Tidal Energy Project, the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office is supporting this effort.

The project aligns closely with the President's Executive Order on 20 January 2025, ‘Declaring a National Energy Emergency’. In that order, President Trump underscored the nation's need to develop, "a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy," to drive defence, manufacturing, and agriculture, along with the basics of everyday life. Among the viable energy resources listed in the order was "the kinetic movement of flowing water,” – which ORPC technology captures to generate power.

ORPC’s development efforts come at a time of diminishing returns from Alaska’s oil and gas reserves and rising energy prices for Alaska consumers.

“Harnessing the power of Cook Inlet aligns with Alaska’s vision for its energy future,” said ORPC President and CEO, Stuart Davies. “We're thrilled with the enthusiastic response and support received from Kenai Peninsula stakeholders, and the state as a whole, and look forward to continued work in partnership with them.”

Under a FERC preliminary permit issued in 2021, ORPC has been studying the East Foreland site. Since 2024, under a competitively awarded Phase 1 grant from the Energy Department for the American Tidal Energy Project, the company has been assessing the feasibility of developing a tidal energy project to generate reliable, affordable local energy for the Kenai Peninsula. Following an independent technology selection process, ORPC proposes to deploy its TidGen^® technology and the Proteus Marine Renewable’s AR Series tidal turbine technology – each selected for its suitability in the Cook Inlet environment.

The draft license application submittal follows a period of extensive engagement with state and federal regulators around the design and siting of the project using an adaptive management approach ORPC has implemented for other licenses. The submittal also sets off a 30 – 60 day FERC review process and public comment period.

ORPC is shortlisted for follow-on funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office totalling US$29 million to continue its work as developer of the American Tidal Energy Project, with a decision expected in the next several months.

Further study and surveying of the East Foreland site will inform final engineering work and subsequent submittal of a final pilot license application to FERC. Once the license is granted, it will mark ORPC's second FERC pilot project license as a tidal energy project developer and technology provider.

For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.

Energy Global's Spring 2025 issue

The first issue of 2025 is here! The Spring issue of Energy Global starts with a guest comment by Tim Reid from UK Export Finance about expanding operations overseas before a regional report from Aurora Energy Research no the effect of negative electricity prices in Europe. Other interesting topics covered in the issue include electrical infrastructure, sit surveys & mapping, developments in solar, and much more. Featuring contributions from key industry leaders such as EM&I, DeterTech, and Global Underwater Hub, among others, don’t miss the valuable insights available in the Spring 2025 issue.

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/other-renewables/21032025/orpc-files-ferc-draft-pilot-license-application-for-alaska-tidal-project-site/