Trip to Lucid

Lucid Energy, in downtown Goshen, is developing in-pipe water turbine prototypes.

Why would you want such a thing? In the western U.S., metropolitan areas supply some of their water needs from water reservoirs high in nearby mountain ranges. These water projects were never designed as hydroelectric dams. But Lucid’s turbines can be retrofitted into existing water supply lines. So, with a minimal infrastructure investment, these municipal water supply projects can also start generating carbon-free electricity from falling water.

The physics seminar class visited the firm in downtown Goshen in March. Their staff includes three Goshen College alumni, including engineer Rod Schlabach (first picture).

Here are some of their turbines installed in pipes.