PRESS

Natel wins Best in Energy Tech Award from Global Tech Awards

October 18, 2024

Natel Energy, a leader in innovative hydropower engineering, is thrilled to announce that its FishSafe™ turbine designs have won the Best in Energy Tech Award from the Global Tech Awards.

The Global Tech Awards celebrate the most innovative, creative, and impactful technology solutions across industries worldwide. Natel Energy’s FishSafe™ turbines were recognized for their groundbreaking approach to hydropower, which combines environmental sustainability with high operational efficiency.

“Natel’s FishSafe™ turbines stood out for their ability to deliver industry-leading fish passage survival rates while being a cost-effective option for hydropower plant upgrades,” said Gia Schneider, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to advancing hydropower technology in a way that benefits both the environment and plant owners' bottom line.”

Through rigorous testing and refinement, Natel's FishSafe designs have achieved through-turbine fish passage survival rates of 98-100% across multiple fish species and life stages. Safe through-turbine fish passage improves environmental outcomes for freshwater biodiversity and eliminates the need for fine screens or nightly shutdowns, lowering the total cost of ownership and accelerating return on investment by 2-10x.

Turbines designed by Natel can directly replace aging propeller, Kaplan, and Francis-style equipment in plants with up to 40 meters (130 feet) of head. FishSafe turbines have demonstrated safe fish passage even while operating at conventional blade speeds and maintaining high hydraulic efficiency.

As Natel Energy continues to push for the development of more sustainable hydropower, this recognition reinforces the company's mission to drive environmental and economic progress in the renewable energy sector.

For further information, please contact press@natelenergy.com.

__

About Natel
Natel Energy is a technology & engineering company working to support healthy rivers, promote biodiversity and decarbonize the grid by developing hydropower turbines that are safe for fish. Through rigorous testing and refinement, Natel has achieved through-turbine fish passage survival rates of 98-100% across multiple fish species and life stages with its novel FishSafe™ runner designs. These runners have demonstrated safe fish passage even while operating at conventional blade speeds and maintaining high hydraulic efficiency. Natel conducts feasibility studies, performs fish passage and performance testing, and works with leading turbine manufacturers to implement its runner designs worldwide. Natel is a privately held company located in Alameda, California in the United States.

More Stories

Video

Natel featured on Ziroth YouTube Channel

Ziroth talks about the Restoration Hydro Turbine and installing fish-safe hydro in the Democratic Republic of Congo with MyHydro.

Video

Fish Inclusion for Hydropower: The River Institute's Science + Nature Series Hosts Natel

Abe and Sterling explain how the RHT works, how we know it works, and where it's going. With special emphasis on eel safety and applications for the St. Lawrence River. Hosted by the River Institute.

Press

CleanTechnica Dives into Natel's DRC Project with MyHydro

CleanTechnica chats with MyHydro and looks at the impact that Natel's RHTs could have in the Democratic Republic of Congo.