Nanocomposite Surface Treatment for Significant Cost Saving for Water Conveyance Systems for Powering Non-Powered Dams

Compared to other electricity sources, hydropower is one of the most affordable, flexible, and reliable ways to generate renewable electricity. Retrofitting Non-Powered Dams (NPDs) for power production has many benefits including more high-paying domestic jobs, economic hub development, environmental benefits, increase in safety to lives and property, and supports the U.S. as the global energy leader. To unlock up to 12 Gigawatts of clean energy from the nation’s non-powered dams, Oceanit proposes to enable the transition into hydropower by optimizing the water conveyance systems with a nanocomposite surface treatment (NST) technology. The nanocomposite technology leverages on Oceanit’s patented surface treatments that are recognized to provide superior benefits in terms of drag reduction, biofouling prevention, and flow assurance in pipelines with the additional benefit of corrosion inhibition on metallic surfaces, resulting in overall increased operational efficiency and significant OPEX and CAPEX savings in hydroelectric energy production.
In Phase I, Oceanit will fully test and evaluate the nanocomposite surface treatment to meet all the technical, performance and safety requirements for water transport in water conveyance systems. Oceanit’s primary Phase 1 objective is to provide a unique, practical, scalable, and cost-effective solution for transforming non-powered dams for efficient power generation capabilities by reducing friction losses by up to 10%, inhibiting corrosion and bio growth, and ultimately extending the life of retrofitted dam components. Oceanit intends to adapt its proprietary nanocomposite surface treatment technology for application on several types of concrete, cement, steel, weld joints, and various connections in the water conveyance system. Oceanit hopes to establish a solution that can seamlessly integrate into the retrofitting process of turning NPDs to powered dams. A suitable location for demonstration of the technology will be selected for Pilot Application in Phase 2 and commercialization potential will be further assessed as the technology becomes productized in Phase 3.
The conclusive outcome of this Nanocomposite Surface Treatment technology is to support the United States’ clean energy transition by providing a significant cost saving technology to be utilized in water conveyance systems for powering non-powered dams.