Natel Energy’s Restoration Hydro Turbine is the first in the industry to enable safe passage for large and small fish while also meeting installation configurations for a wide variety of hydropower facilities.
Water Power Technologies Office
March 1, 2023
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HYDROPOWER PROGRAM
Innovations for Low-Impact Hydropower Growth
Project Name: Advanced Compact Generation Module with Fish Safe Runner Technology
Project Team: Natel Energy (lead) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Lead Recipient Location: Alameda, California
Natel Energy developed a solution validated by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to help fish move safely through hydropower facilities. Natel’s Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT) has a unique design with thicker blades, rounded leading edges, and a forward slant from the blade’s hub to its tip. Natel and PNNL tested the passage of American eel and rainbow trout, ranging from 8-20 inches in length, through the RHT. Collectively, more than 99% of fish passed safely through the turbine. The RHT is the first turbine in the industry to enable safe passage for large and small fish while still meeting high performance metrics and matching standard installation configurations for multiple sizes and configurations of hydropower facilities. This innovation demonstrates significant progress in efforts to preserve biodiversity while advancing renewable energy production.
Innovations for Low-Impact Hydropower Growth Projects
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Researchers created and tested a composite hydropower turbine runner blade and found it performed nearly identically to traditional blades made of stainless steel. -
An Oak Ridge National Laboratory report found opportunities to develop hydropower on conduits in every state, totaling 1.41 gigawatts of new generating potential. -
Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed two tools and published a report to aid developers making decisions about whether to add power-generating infrastructure to dams that currently do not generate power. -
Natel Energy developed its Restoration Hydro modular concept, which combines watershed restoration efforts with new hydropower development. -
Researchers created the waterSHED tool to help demonstrate the design, operation, and feasibility of new, small hydropower projects at streams and sites with existing water infrastructure.
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