US company ORPC has selected Millinocket Fabrication and Machine to manufacture the turbine shafts for its portfolio of hydro and tidal products.
The fabricator will supply the turbine infrastructure for ORPC’s Modular RivGen devices as well as similar components for its TidGen-80 device, currently under development and scheduled for initial testing later this year in Cobscook Bay in Eastport.
ORPC will begin testing the modular RivGen product, which is a smaller version of its commercialised RivGen device (pictured) later this year at One North in Millinocket Stream.
The company said it will work with One North to evaluate the site as a future hydrokinetic testing facility and a location to demonstrate contemporary use cases such as EV charging.
The RivGen system is designed for use in grid-connected markets, with applications for large rivers, electrical vehicle charging networks, hydroelectric facilities, irrigation canals and bridges, piers, breakwaters and flood controls systems.
The developer secured part of the funding for the project from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office to help initiate associated product and market development.
Millinocket Fabrication and Machine president Fred Lewis said: “We are excited to be working with ORPC and look forward to manufacturing the components needed for their product testing.
“Our company is one of the oldest in Millinocket. We have been designing and manufacturing parts for our partners on the former GNP site for over 100 years and we are happy to welcome a new business to the One North industrial site.”
ORPC chief executive officer Stuart Davies said: “The addition of Millinocket Fabrication & Machine to our Maine-based suppliers demonstrates the capabilities and quality workmanship of Maine contractors, as well as their competitiveness with manufacturing facilities outside the state.
“Our company is expanding its footprint in Maine and adding jobs. Securing business with Millinocket Fabrication helps strengthen ORPC’s strategy for market growth ahead.”
ORPC said it is responding to market opportunities in over 40 countries and has active projects in Canada and Chile, in addition to Alaska.