Hydro Review: Commercializing a New Small Hydropower Technology
Natel Energy in Alameda, Calif., is dedicated to advancing hydropower technology to make it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective, as well as flexible enough to be a go-to source of power for operators in rivers of all sizes throughout the U.S. and around the world. With a name appropriately coined from the phrase “natural electric,” Natel is focused on enabling a distributed or decentralized hydropower model featuring systems of smaller projects-– that maintain river connectivity –– networked together as “virtual power plants” or VPPs, as opposed to the current approach of large centralized dams, which can be damaging to wildlife and the adjacent ecosystem.
Founded by Gia Schneider and Abe Schneider, siblings who gained a deep appreciation for the power of rivers and the beauty of their ecosystems during family camping and fishing trips as children, Natel is advancing its vision of “Restoration Hydro,” combining low environmental impact with high economic value. This can be a boon to organizations looking to decarbonize their operations further and transition to a low- or zero-carbon grid.
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Turbine Design for Fish Inclusion: watch the SUSHP presentation
The presentation that Sterling and Abe gave at the Sustainability in Hydropower Conference at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology this spring is now online. Check it out!
US DOE Grants Natel $1.3M to Lead Sustainable Hydropower Education and Community Engagement Project in Minnesota
The US Water Power Technologies Office selected Natel for $1.3M in funding to educate the public about hydropower, its relationship with freshwater ecology, and its benefit to a renewable grid.
