Ocean Renewable Power Company

The genesis of ORPC began in 2004, when a cruise ship industry executive, Paul Wells, queried whether there was a way to generate electricity from ocean currents like the Gulf Stream. He teamed up with two others, a structural engineer, Christopher R. Sauer, and a third co-founder with a financial background.

In 2007, with input from the U.S. Navy, ORPC launched a 46 ft long, horizontal cross-flow turbine prototype in Cobscook Bay, Maine, which proved technically feasible.

In 2010, the company's 60-kilowatt tidal turbine began providing grid-compatible electricity to the Eastport, Maine, U.S. Coast Guard station's utility boat.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sunjournal.com/coast-guard-celebrates-tidal-power-maine/|title=Coast Guard celebrates tidal power in Maine - Lewiston Sun Journal|date=2010-08-24|work=Lewiston Sun Journal|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en-US}}

ORPC pursued and won the first contract with the Maine Public Utilities Commission to provide up to 5 megawatts of tidal power in April 2012. ORPC will receive 21.5 cents per kilowatt-hour produced, which is higher than the fluctuating price paid to producers on the open electricity market. They determined that the economic benefits that would accrue to the state would be a factor of 1.8, meaning more money would be returned to the Maine economy through jobs and taxes than was being invested in the higher rate paid.{{cite news|last=Groening|first=Tom|title=Electricity flows from ocean turbine to grid for first time in western hemisphere|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/09/13/news/down-east/electricity-flows-from-ocean-turbine-to-grid-for-first-time-in-western-hemisphere/|accessdate=31 December 2013|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=2012-09-13}} Maine's state senate president, Kevin Raye, described the deal as a major milestone "in the 80-year effort to commercially harness the vast power of the tides”.

The company installed an underwater turbine{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/|title=Chain of Horizontal Gorlov turbines being installed in Cobscook Bay, Maine, USA|last=Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), USA|work=Image|accessdate=31 December 2013}} to use tidal currents to generate renewable energy. The unit was installed on the ocean floor at the company's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-licensed{{Cite news|url=http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20120228/NEWS0101/120229967|title=ORPC gets license to test tidal power system|work=Mainebiz|access-date=2018-08-06|language=en-US}} Cobscook Bay project site, in Eastport and Lubec, Maine. The project transmitted the first electricity ever delivered to a utility-scale grid from an ocean resource in North or South America in September 2012.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/us/turbine-to-harness-the-tides-to-generate-power.html|title=Turbine to Harness the Tides to Generate Power|last=Bidgood|first=Jess|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en}}{{cite news|last=Fallows|first=James|title=Eastport, Maine: The Little Town that Might|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/01/the-little-town-that-might/355744/|accessdate=31 December 2013|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=22 December 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec13/tidalpower_09-15.html|title=Can a Small Maine Town's Innovation Turn the Tides on Sustainable Energy?|date=2013-09-15|newspaper=PBS NewsHour|accessdate=31 December 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/maine-company-leading-way-as-tidal-energy-comes-of-age_2012-07-22.html|title=Maine company leading way as tidal energy comes of age|last=Woodard|first=Colin|date=2012-07-21|newspaper=Maine Sunday Telegram|accessdate=30 December 2013}} A $21 million project, the Cobscook Bay Project was funded almost equally between private and public sources, with the United States Department of Energy providing a $10 million research grant. The project produced enough electricity for 25 homes. Said Jose Zayas, director of the Wind and Water Power Technologies Office at the Department of Energy, "These first pioneering projects are complicated (and) really breaking new ground." Said Paul Jacobson, an ocean energy expert at the Palo Alto, Calif.-based Electric Power Research Institute. "With this project, these tidal power devices have finally crossed the threshold into commercial development." "The project, which injected $14 million into the local economy and has supported more than 100 local and supply chain jobs, represents the first tidal energy project in the United States with long-term contracts to sell electricity."{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy.gov/articles/maine-deploys-first-us-commercial-grid-connected-tidal-energy-project|title=Maine Deploys First U.S. Commercial, Grid-Connected Tidal Energy Project|website=Energy.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-06}}

Starting in 2013, ORPC submitted annual environmental monitoring reports for the Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission{{Cite web|url=https://tethys.pnnl.gov/institution/ocean-renewable-power-company-orpc|title=Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) {{!}} Tethys|website=tethys.pnnl.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-30}} with findings from acoustic, marine mammal and fish species studies along with other environmental impacts, which the company indicated had no adverse impact on the marine environment of Cobscook Bay."{{Cite news|url=http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20130410/NEWS0101/130419999/orpc-files-first-tidal-power-report-to-ferc|title=ORPC files first tidal power report to FERC|work=Mainebiz|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-US}}

ORPC is developing the autonomous turbine generator unit (ATGU), a roving subsea power generation module capable of self-propelling, self-deploying and retrieving, and providing a power supply to subsea vehicles and monitoring systems, and performing underwater missions such as heavy lifts, inspections, and robotic operations. This project is supported by the US Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) program.{{Citation |title=ORPC Autonomous Turbine Generator Unit | date=19 October 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FObv8y_GB_U |language=en |access-date=2022-02-01}}{{Cite web |date=2020-04-16 |title=ORPC trials its autonomous turbine generator |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/orpc-trials-its-autonomous-turbine-generator/ |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=Offshore Energy |language=en-US}}

Founder and CEO Christopher R. Sauer retired in 2020, after 16 years of service to the company. Stuart Davies now leads the company as CEO.{{Cite web |author=Staff Report |date=2019-12-19 |title=Chris Sauer, co-founder and CEO of Ocean Renewable Power Co., is retiring |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/12/19/sauer-co-founder-of-marine-energy-company-orpc-to-retire/ |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=Press Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Edward D. MurphyStaff |date=2020-01-09 |title=Portland-based Ocean Renewable Power Co. names new CEO |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/01/09/portland-based-ocean-renewable-power-co-names-new-ceo/ |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=Press Herald}}

ORPC has expanded its operations globally, establishing three subsidiaries: ORPC Canada (Montreal, 2015),{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=James |date=October 16, 2015 |title=Portland's Ocean Renewable Power launches subsidiary in Quebec |url=https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/portlands-ocean-renewable-power-launches-subsidiary-in-quebec |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Mainebiz}} ORPC Ireland LLC (Dublin, 2015),{{Cite web |last=James |first=McCarthy |date=May 11, 2015 |title=New ORPC subsidiary to pursue ocean energy in Ireland |url=http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20150511/NEWS0101/150519998/1092 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Mainebiz}} and ORPC Chile SpA (Punta Arenas, 2021).{{Cite web |last=ORPC |date=February 1, 2022 |title=La empresa ORPC Chile, fundada en 2020, es subsidiaria de la casa matriz ORPC en Portland, Maine, USA. |url=https://www.orpc.cl/quienes-somos.html |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=ORPC Chile}}

Along with 17 other high-tech small businesses and 3 individuals, ORPC received a Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C., in May 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sba.gov/content/innovative-and-outstanding-high-tech-small-businesses-receive-tibbetts-awards-1|title=Innovative and Outstanding High-Tech Small Businesses Receive Tibbetts Awards {{!}} The U.S. Small Business Administration {{!}} SBA.gov|website=www.sba.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-30}} The award honors companies and individuals nationwide, "who are beacons of promise and models of excellence in high technology."

ORPC was the first marine renewable company to receive the Outstanding Stewards of America's Waters Award for Operational Excellence from the National Hydropower Association in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Ingram |first=Elizabeth |date=2016-06-01 |title=NHA recognizes riverine operational excellence |work=Hydro Review |url=https://www.hydroreview.com/2016/06/01/marine-hydrokinetics/#gref |access-date=2020-04-09}}

In September 2020, Stuart Davies provided public testimony{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2020 |title=Official Testimony from Stuart Davies, CEO, ORPC, Inc. |url=https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/A0878E03-2927-4BA9-B136-FB0471C56E1F |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources}} before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Full Committee Hearing on Offshore Energy Technologies.{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2020 |title=Full Committee Hearing on Offshore Energy Technologies |url=https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2020/9/full-committee-hearing-to-consider-offshore-energy |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources}}

ORPC was honored as Innovator of the Year by the Maine International Trade Center in May 2021.{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=May 3, 2021 |title=ORPC Named Innovator Of the Year By Maine International Trade Center |url=https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ocean_energy/orpc-named-innovator-of-the-year-by-20210503 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Renewable Energy Magazine}}{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2022 |title=2021 Innovator of the Year – Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) |url=https://news.mitc.com/2021-innovator-of-the-year-ocean-renewable-power-company/ |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Maine International Trade Center}}

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Senator Angus King visited ORPC headquarters in September 2021.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Edward D. |date=September 10, 2021 |title=Top Biden official meets Sen. King in Portland to talk renewable energy |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/09/10/top-biden-official-meets-sen-king-in-portland-to-talk-renewable-energy/ |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Portland Press Herald}}{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2021 |title=Secretary Granholm Visited Maine and New Hampshire to Tour Renewable Energy Infrastructure |url=https://www.energy.gov/articles/icymi-secretary-granholm-visited-maine-and-new-hampshire-tour-renewable-energy |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Energy.gov}}File:ORPC RivGen® 2.0 Power System.jpg

In 2014, ORPC built and operated its RivGen Power System, the Company’s first river energy project, delivering power to the remote Alaskan village of Igiugig.{{Cite news|last=McCarthy|first=James|url=https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20140925/NEWS0101/140929975|title=Ocean Renewable Power Co. calls Alaskan pilot project a 'huge success'|date=25 September 2014|work=Mainebiz|accessdate=8 April 2020}}

An updated RivGen Power System was re-installed and operated in Igiugig in 2015 to demonstrate its latest technology advancements and provided one-third of the community’s electricity needs, significantly offsetting their diesel fuel use.{{Cite news|last=Labonte|first=Alison|url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/river-turbine-provides-clean-energy-remote-alaskan-village|title=River Turbine Provides Clean Energy to Remote Alaskan Village|date=2015-08-18|work=Energy.gov Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy|access-date=2020-04-09}}

In July 2019, ORPC deployed its commercial RivGen 2.0 Power System and connected it to the Igiugig community microgrid, generating 35 kW at this site.{{Cite news|last=O'Hara|first=Nicole|url=http://www.youralaskalink.com/news/sustainable-river-energy-project-launches-in-igiugig/article_67d1a216-aa8c-11e9-8f55-a7d09c504ff9.html|title=Sustainable River Energy Project Launches in Igiugig|date=2019-07-19|work=ABC Alaska|access-date=2020-04-09}}{{Cite news|last=Read|first=Richard|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-16/alaska-hydro-salmon-igiugig|title=Path to paradise? Alaskan village hopes to replace fossil fuel with water power|date=2019-08-17|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2020-04-09}}{{Cite news|last=McBride|first=Rhonda|url=https://www.ktva.com/story/40850159/frontiers-180-igiugig-a-river-runs-through-it|title=Frontiers 180: Igiugig - A River Runs Through It|date=July 29, 2019|work=11 KTVA|access-date=April 9, 2020}}File:Test of ORPC's autonomous turbine generator unit (ATGU) prototype at University of Maine in 2020.jpg

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.orpc.co/ Ocean Renewal Power Company website]
• [https://www.linkedin.com/company/orpc1/ LinkedIn]
• [https://twitter.com/ORPC_Inc Twitter]

Category:Renewable energy companies of the United States

Category:Companies based in Maine

Category:Tidal stream generators

Category:Tidal power