KIT Turbine: Next-Generation Floating Hydrokinetic Energy System
The KIT Turbine, developed by Dr. Nenad Koncar, is an innovative floating hydrokinetic energy solution designed to harness the kinetic power of flowing water to generate clean, renewable electricity. Engineered for efficiency, scalability, and environmental compatibility, the KIT Turbine represents a breakthrough in small-to-mid-scale hydropower technology.
What Is the KIT Turbine?
The KIT Turbine is a floating hydroelectric unit optimized to convert the kinetic energy of surface water flow—whether in rivers, tidal currents, or marine environments—directly into electrical power. This system exploits the natural motion of flowing water without the need for dams, reservoirs, or major infrastructure, making it a highly adaptable solution for distributed renewable energy generation.
How It Works
The core mechanism of the KIT Turbine is a set of worm gears and rotors mounted between three buoyant floats anchored securely in a flowing water body. As water currents pass through the unit, they turn the worm gears, which drive an onboard generator. This process converts kinetic energy from the water into usable electrical energy. The design supports multiple turbines working in parallel to scale output as needed.
Key engineering principles include:
- Hydrokinetic energy conversion: The turbine captures energy from the flow of water without relying on gravitational head or dammed water. This aligns with broader classifications of hydrokinetic turbines that extract power from in-stream flow.
- Floating, anchored design: By floating near the water surface and anchored in place, the system naturally aligns with flow direction, maximizing exposure to higher velocity currents and energy capture, a strategy also seen in other floating kinetic systems.
- Minimal environmental footprint: The KIT Turbine’s surface-level configuration minimizes impact on riverbeds and marine ecosystems, similarly to other floating hydrokinetic technologies that avoid seabed civil works.
Environmental and Operational Benefits
The KIT Turbine is purpose-built for sustainable electricity generation with the following advantages:
- Zero structural disruption: Unlike traditional hydropower systems that require dams or channels, the floating unit simply anchors into the current, preserving natural water movement.
- Wildlife-friendly design: Operating at low rotational speeds, the system does not interfere with fish migration or aquatic life.
- Low maintenance, high reliability: The simplicity of components, careful material selection, and floating design reduce long-term service requirements.
- Flexible deployment: Units can operate individually or as part of a network to meet specific power demands.
The 100 kW KIT Turbine: Ideal for Distributed Power
Among the scalable versions of the KIT Turbine, the 100 kW model is positioned as the optimal solution for independent and community-scale renewable energy projects:
- Reliable base load power for off-grid or micro-grid applications
- Scalable array potential for larger installations
- Reduced permitting complexity compared to conventional hydropower
This model is engineered to produce tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours annually, making it suitable for remote communities, agricultural operations, and coastal installations.
Tested and proven.
The KIT Turbine has been tested and proven in the Trogir bay area by Adria Diesel d.o.o. and Kermas Energija.
During extensive seatrials, the KIT Turbine has been put through the pases of heavy and extensive testing in various sea conditions and proven to maintain functinal and operational.
Real-World Applicability
The KIT Turbine aligns with emerging trends in hydrokinetic energy technology that emphasize modular and low-impact systems. Similar systems in the broader industry are designed to be easily installed, highly efficient, and environmentally compatible without the extensive civil works required by traditional hydroelectric plants.
The KIT Turbine by Dr. Nenad Koncar presents a compelling solution for clean energy generation where flowing water is abundant but traditional hydropower installations are impractical. Its floating design, adaptive scalability, and low environmental impact make it an ideal choice for 21st-century renewable energy portfolios seeking efficiency, sustainability, and resilience.
SophSys is the proud distributer of the KIT Turbine technology by Dr. Nenad Koncar.