Boeing and its partner in Montreal, RER Hydro, have signed a multiyear agreement with the government of Quebec to provide 40 hydrokinetic turbines that will generate approximately 9 megawatts of clean, renewable power to the province.
This deal marks the first commercial sale of this technology, even though RER Hydro has been testing a prototype for over three years. The hydro company will build the turbines in Quebec after signing a deal last year with Boeing giving them the exclusive rights to market and sell the turbines internationally. Boeing will provide program management, engineering, manufacturing and supplier-management expertise along with servicing the turbines.
“This agreement between industry and government will deliver renewable power while protecting the environment,” said Boeing Defense, space & security president and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. “It also builds on Boeing’s long-term, strategic partnership with Canada, supporting customers from aerospace and defense to clean energy, generating high-quality jobs, and making a difference in the community.”
Imad Hamad, RER’s chief executive officer, also added, “Because it’s not a dam, the turbines generate clean power without disrupting the river flow or the natural habitat. Numerous independent studies demonstrate that our technology has no negative impact on fish or other marine life.”