Development of independent power source capable of providing energy stably to equipment and facilities located in mountainous areas

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) announces that the “NTN Micro Hydro Turbine” *1has been adopted by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Incorporated (hereafter, TEPCO HD) as an independent power source for its project aimed at resolving the issue of technology capable of providing energy stably to equipment and facilities located in mountainous areas. The product has been adopted as part of development of a demonstration test model. Development is being conducted by four companies, TEPCO HD, COSMOSWEB Co., Ltd., Kandenko Co., Ltd. and NTN.
TEPCO HD is strengthening partnerships with various companies that utilize its technology and big data, and is calling for technology and ideas aimed at resolving various issues via its website “TEPCO CUUSOO.”*2 NTN proposed its “NTN Micro Hydro Turbine,” which can be placed on existing water channels to generate power, to address one the issues of technology capable of providing energy stably to equipment and facilities located in mountainous areas, and the product has been adopted as an independent power source. Demonstration tests begin from summer this year, where data is collected for analysis.
Small to medium-sized hydroelectric power stations along rivers require power lines to be installed to supply power for operating equipment located in mountainous areas, however there are issues of poor cost effectiveness. The developed power source is an independent power supply system that integrates a control system of COSMOSWEB, solar panels of Kandenko and the “NTN Micro Hydro Turbine.” Installing the power source near the water intake of hydroelectric power stations allows the generated power to be used to operate equipment and facilities nearby.
Development of this independent power source will significantly reduce initial investment costs for small hydroelectric power stations, and is also expected to be able to generate renewable energy efficiently using unutilized hydropower.
NTN is contributing to realizing a low carbon society by proposing locally produced and consumed energy with these products that utilize natural energy.