Natel wins Global Energy Show Canada's Excellence in Power Generation Award

Natel’s FishSafe™ Design Wins Excellence in Power Generation Award 

June 14, 2024 – Natel has been awarded the prestigious Excellence in Power Generation award at the 9th Annual Global Energy Show Canada Awards. This accolade recognizes Natel’s groundbreaking FishSafe™ turbine designs, which provide the dual benefit of efficient clean power generation and unmatched fish survival, as part of a revolutionary new approach to hydropower that is both economic and environmentally-focused. 

The Global Energy Show Awards celebrate the achievements of leaders, innovators, and trailblazers in the energy sector, highlighting significant accomplishments in leadership, innovation, sustainable solutions, and the promotion of a healthier energy sector. 

“We are deeply honored to receive the Excellence in Power Generation Award from the Global Energy Show Canada,” said Gia Schneider, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Natel Energy. “This recognition highlights our commitment to producing energy that is both renewable and sustainable. Our innovative FishSafe™ turbine designs enable high-performance power generation and safe fish passage; demonstrating a significant step forward in meeting growing energy demands while simultaneously addressing critical biodiversity and decarbonization challenges."

Schneider added, "We are particularly excited about the opportunities for FishSafe™ turbines to support Canada’s energy needs while also contributing to enhanced connectivity in Canadian rivers.”

Innovative FishSafe™ Turbine Designs

Natel’s FishSafe™ turbine designs offer a modern, ecologically preferred solution for updating or constructing renewable hydroelectric power systems worldwide. FishSafe™ turbines are engineered to enable both safe fish passage and high-speed operation for a wide variety of turbine types, configurations, and sizes.
With peak hydraulic performance exceeding 90%, Natel’s turbine designs deliver performance comparable to conventional turbine shapes. Moreover, Natel’s FishSafe™ designs offer ease of use and manageability, serving as in-place replacements for existing turbine models without requiring modifications to civil works. This functionality enables seamless integration into existing hydropower installations, reducing installation costs and complications.

These innovative designs are not only effective in generating clean energy but also play a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impacts typically associated with hydroelectric power. Through rigorous testing and refinement, Natel has achieved fish passage survival rates of 98-100% across multiple fish species and life stages, at high rotational speeds. By prioritizing safe fish passage as a design constraint alongside efficient power generation, Natel’s FishSafe™ designs represent a meaningful step forward for the renewable energy sector, directly aligning power generation with environmental conservation.

FishSafe™ turbines are currently in operation at locations across the U.S. and Austria. 

About the Global Energy Show Awards

Now in its 9th year, the Global Energy Show Awards continue to shine a spotlight on excellence within the energy industry, both in Canada and globally. The awards recognize the efforts of companies and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to sustainable practices over the past 12 months.

About Natel

‍Natel is working to support healthy rivers, promote biodiversity and decarbonize the grid through FishSafe™ hydropower. Natel delivers high-performance FishSafe™ turbine and plant designs informed by industry-leading CFD modeling and analysis. In partnership with turbine manufacturers, Natel designs solutions to upgrade existing hydropower plants and develop new, sustainable projects worldwide, mitigating climate change while curbing biodiversity loss. Natel is a privately held company located in Alameda, California in the United States. Visit www.natelenergy.com or contact press@natelenergy.com for more information.