Waterfalls With A Twist

Riverbank Power, based in Toronto, has devised a power generation system that drops water from a river or other surface source through turbines into deep underground reservoirs. It is hoping to develop its first “Aquabank” underground pumped storage generation at the Wiscasset Energy Center in Maine. The water would be diverted by the force of gravity down 600 metre shafts into a powerhouse, creating 1000-MW of emission-free power. During off-peak hours, electric pumps return the water to the surface in a continual cycle. The pumps for the water return could be powered by wind turbines, which are most active during off-peak hours at night, while the power generated in the under- ground turbines would be available at peak times.

Geological testing for a $2-billion site at Wiscasset was showing good results by April. The company also has a test site in Sparta, New Jersey, as well as potential sites in Canada.