Hydrokinetic Power: Potential in the Roza and Kittitas Canals

Hydrokinetic energy, the power of moving water, is a promising new, vast, and renewable resource that is unhindered by many of the weaknesses experienced with other clean energy sources. The recent installation of a prototype hydrokinetic turbine at Yakima, WA’s Roza Canal serves as an example of this, as the turbine produced over 5,000 kWh in one month, exceeding expectations. This thesis analyzes this turbine’s performance while also looking at two canals in eastern Washington’s Kittitas Reclamation District as potential sites for hydrokinetic turbines. The estimates demonstrate hydrokinetic turbines to not only be a clean, reliable, and continuous power source, but to also be a cost-effective investment in ideal sites.