At REC, our purpose is create water turbines that are low cost, simple to manufacture and easy to deploy.
REC was born in 2013 out of a simple question – why was harnessing the power of water for green power progressing far more slowly than emerging technologies in wind and solar? This even though the enormous potential of tidal, wave and flowing water seemed obvious and a great prize. The question was this because of the approach to development and could this barrier be overcome with a different approach.
The company comprises a small team of leading industry professionals who are committed to creating a new form of power generation technology that overcomes historical challenges and makes a positive contribution to renewable power generation.
Founder Frank Moloney discussed his plans with a contact from the World Hydraulics Association, who explained the concept of their water turbines and could Frank help him commercialise this. Frank didn’t get it until he got it. But once he’d understood he found it uttlery fascinating as a problem solving exercise and commercial compelling. Then Frank met Alan Kwan, a senior lecturer at Cardiff engineering department and expert in moveable structures.
After extensive testing of prototype turbines, Smartstream was born. Smartstream is a fully patented technology that uses off-the-shelf technology combines with innovative design to overcomes all the barriers faced by other forms of hydrokenetic power generation.
This revolutionary new approach can bring much needed power to places other systems cannot, including challenging river settings, remotely-located business, or to locations experiencing energy poverty.
To bring water-generated green energy to all corners of the globe, including solutions for developing countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America
SmartStream is a vertical axis turbine, is not adapted from other environments such as wind, but is specifically and uniquely designed to operate in water. Quite simply, our technology will work wherever there is an adequate flow of water be that in rivers, inland waterways, industrial settings, or tidal streams. It will work in the slower flows and shallower depths that are a major challenge to existing water turbines
The technology will also work in conjunction with tidal lagoons (e.g. Swansea Bay), barrages (e.g. River Severn) and hydrodams to further enhance their power outputs and help reduce some of the negative environmental side effects created by their outflows
Start of collaboration with School of Engineering (Cardiff University). Analysis, construction and testing of 1/35 prototypes in hydraulic flumes. Funded PhD students, Tom Harries & James Brammer, both successful (2014).
Extensive week long testing of prototype in the large hydro (“unblocked” conditions) flumes in IFREMER, Boulogne-sur-mer, France.
Open water spring-tide testing of 1/15 prototype in Ogeechee Sound, Georgia, USA
A series of tests over several months, in White Water Rafting Centre, Cardiff, 1/15 prototype, “unblocked”, turbulent, and generating electricity. Funded PhD student, Luis Priegue, successful completion (2017).
REC is a company specifically formed to develop a series of turbines, SmartStream, to harness and commercialise free stream running water in its many forms.
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