The Denver Icon: Water Wheel in the Platte River – RiNo Art District

Currently a conceptual design, it stands as a 50-foot-tall water/paddle wheel in the South Platte River near 38th Avenue. In partnership with The Water Connection and The Greenway Foundation, this new addition to River North Art District intends to serve as a new icon for our city and represents a bold commitment to renewable energy. A unique engineering challenge (we call the AK-8) the water wheel will generate electricity directly from the river. Upon the conclusion of a feasibility study, we will understand further and develop a plan to re-direct a portion of the river in a controlled manner to ensure a steady flow of water to the wheel.

Allowing us to design and engineer the full function of this iconic device. The result is enough power to assist in providing energy to the lighting system along the River North Promenade, a length of more than 4 city blocks. The Denver Icon will utilize a micro-grid, battery storage, and solar array. The complete system is robust, dependable and fully renewable.

ClayDean Electric Company along with our partners at the Water Connection and The Greenway Foundation are also perusing a prototype trash removal system called Nautilus that can be used in conjunction or separate from the water wheel. This adds a direct environmental benefit to the river. The two together make a positive community centerpiece, provide opportunities for education, social improvement and stands as an example to the rest of the country of how forward-thinking and dedication can make for substantial social and environmental change.