Skimmer™
Skimmer is Pterofin's flagship hydrokinetic configuration — a surface-oriented design built to harvest energy from rivers, streams, tidal currents, and canals.
Skimmer is Pterofin's most extensively studied product to date. It's the configuration that underwent independent water-tunnel testing at Penn State University's Applied Research Laboratory through the Department of Energy-supported TEAMER program, and it's the focus of Pterofin's current work with the Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies to develop a validated power curve. Read more about the research behind Skimmer →
In a Skimmer installation, the wing oscillates near the water's surface, with much of the drivetrain positioned above the waterline — simplifying installation and maintenance compared to a fully submerged turbine. When conditions exceed normal operating range, the wing is designed to yield and sweep back with the flow rather than resist it, reducing structural stress and the severity of debris or wildlife interactions.
The videos below show Skimmer prototypes through various stages of development and testing.
Explore the Technology See the Research
Skimmer is Pterofin's flagship hydrokinetic configuration — a surface-oriented design built to harvest energy from rivers, streams, tidal currents, and canals.
Skimmer is Pterofin's most extensively studied product to date. It's the configuration that underwent independent water-tunnel testing at Penn State University's Applied Research Laboratory through the Department of Energy-supported TEAMER program, and it's the focus of Pterofin's current work with the Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies to develop a validated power curve. Read more about the research behind Skimmer →
In a Skimmer installation, the wing oscillates near the water's surface, with much of the drivetrain positioned above the waterline — simplifying installation and maintenance compared to a fully submerged turbine. When conditions exceed normal operating range, the wing is designed to yield and sweep back with the flow rather than resist it, reducing structural stress and the severity of debris or wildlife interactions.
The videos below show Skimmer prototypes through various stages of development and testing.
Explore the Technology See the Research
