Natel Energy

The summer's heating up, but at Natel we're keeping things cool, and not only with shade structures and a cooling tower for the fish! Read our latest newsletter for a roundup of our biggest updates from the last three months. https://lnkd.in/gVcbcxhP #hydropower #fishsafe #newsletter

Our co-founder and CCO Gia Schneider was recently featured on the Dam! podcast, hosted by Austin Rohr of Northwest RiverPartners. On this unique industry-specific podcast, Gia and Austin dive deep into the critical topic of fish passage in hydropower. Key highlights from the discussion include: 🏗 How replacing aging equipment with FishSafe turbines and turbine runners can be a cost-saver for plant owners. 🐟 The functionality of FishSafe turbines as downstream fish passageways, reducing or eliminating the need for traditional fish exclusion structures like fine screens and large fish bypasses. 🌟 Natel’s leadership in developing turbine technology that ensures safe downstream fish passage. Effective fish passage solutions for hydropower plants are essential for maintaining both freshwater biodiversity and the overall efficiency of hydropower plants. 🎧 Listen to the episode to learn more about the win-win solution that Natel's FishSafe designs present: https://lnkd.in/gT3vdT4P #hydropower #fishpassage #innovation #Natel #fishsafe #waterpower #turbine #upgrades

Our co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Gia Schneider, will be attending HYDROVISION International in Denver tomorrow! Be sure to find Gia at the event and say hello. 🐟💧⚡ Gia is a passionate advocate for hydropower as a cornerstone of the renewable energy transition and for technological innovation as key to improving and strengthening our hydropower fleet. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with Gia and learn more about Natel's FishSafe™ turbine designs and how they support healthy rivers and promote biodiversity while producing renewable hydropower. Many thanks to Shane Scott at SSA Environmental and Ian Gagnon, PE for your help facilitating. 😊 Hope to see you there! #Hydrovision #hydropower #renewableenergy #innovation #networking #natel #fishsafe

🐟*How an Oregon Hydro Project's Fish Passage Data Helps Inform the Industry*🐟 National Hydropower Association highlighted how Natel's Monroe Drop project in central Oregon is a powerful example of how hydropower can balance efficiency and sustainability. Leveraging pre-existing infrastructure, the project is certified Low Impact by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute and features a FishSafe™ RHT. Studies from 2020 and 2022 with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory national lab revealed that the turbines at Monroe Drop successfully passed rainbow trout up to 19.7 inches in length with a remarkable 98-100% survival rate and no detectable injuries. This valuable fish passage data provides crucial insights for industry owners and operators aiming to enhance their own projects. Learn more about the future of low impact, FishSafe hydropower in this article in NHA's POWERHOUSE: https://lnkd.in/gC9bdr8y #Hydropower #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #FishPassage #Technology #Innovation #WithHydropower

Hydropower is the leading source of renewable electricity generation, but it can disrupt aquatic habitats and hinder migratory species. It is imperative that we work to protect aquatic species while maintaining hydropower's benefit to the grid. Gia Schneider talked with MIT Technology Review's Casey Crownhart about how FishSafe™ turbines are one tool we can use to balance river ecosystem health with global climate goals. Read the full story to learn more! 🐟💧🌍 #Hydropower #RenewableEnergy #SustainableTech #ClimateAction #FishSafe #CleanEnergy #MITTechReview #WithHydropower https://lnkd.in/g-8uHwtY

Puissance Hydro's latest issue, focussed on innovation in hydropower, features an article by Aude Richard about Natel's FishSafe turbine designs and our collaboration with German manufacturer DIVE-Turbine. If you attended the France Hydro Électricité event in Agen last week, you should have received a physical copy of this magazine! If you didn't, you can get one here: https://lnkd.in/eK4tsE9f Maintaining and expanding the world’s hydropower fleet is essential to achieve a zero-carbon grid, but traditional hydropower can harm river ecosystems, in part by obstructing downstream fish passage. Natel has pioneered unique methods for turbine runner design that enable both safe though-turbine fish passage and efficient hydroelectric power generation. Through rigorous testing and refinement, Natel has achieved fish passage survival rates of 98-100% across multiple species and life stages, even at high rotational speeds. For more information, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gix5dTNv #hydropower #hydroelectric #innovation #waterpower #turbine #fishsafe

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Bill Malus as Natel's new Chief Executive Officer. Bill brings more than 25 years of respected leadership experience in the hydropower industry and is poised to accelerate Natel’s growth. Bill assumes the CEO role from our co-founder, Gia Schneider, who has served as CEO since Natel’s inception. Gia will transition to the role of Chief Commercial Officer while continuing to serve on the Board of Directors. Abe Schneider, who co-founded the company with Gia, will remain in his role of Chief Technology Officer. Gia and Abe will work closely with Bill to drive Natel's commercial growth and positive ecological impact. Bill Malus joins Natel Energy following his tenure as Business Development Executive for Utilities & Energy at Capgemini after previously serving as Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer for Voith Hydro North America, where he was also a member of the Board of Management. Prior to holding this position, Bill was President & CEO of Voith Hydro Canada and held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Voith Hydro, leading operations from Mississauga. His tenure at Voith Hydro was marked by significant accomplishments in advancing hydropower technologies and driving commercial growth across North America. Bill’s commitment to advancing hydropower’s role in the energy transition is evidenced by his active participation in industry associations. He has served as Treasurer & Executive Board Member for WaterPower Canada | Hydroélectricité Canada and was an Executive Member of Canada’s National Electricity Roundtable. As Natel Energy’s new CEO, Bill will focus on advancing the commercial growth of Natel's FishSafe™ turbine technology. This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the hydropower industry by ensuring the safe passage of fish through turbines, supporting healthy river ecosystems while generating renewable energy. Bill’s extensive commercial experience and industry relationships will be instrumental in advancing Natel’s mission to support healthy rivers, promote freshwater biodiversity, and decarbonize the grid. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gc3Krg9c #withhydropower #leadership #renewableenergy #fishsafe

We're looking forward to the Reuters Events Global Energy Transition Awards tonight, where Natel is a finalist in the Technologies of Change: Technology Whitespace category! This award celebrates the most innovative technologies in the energy transition arena, recognizing those that break barriers and establish new standards for sustainability in the net zero "whitespace." We are honored to be finalists alongside Nuada, Kraken, REDstack BV, Schneider Electric, Nabors Industries, Savant Power, Harvest, Fluence, Kayrros, Facility Innovations Group, and Electrified Thermal Solutions. Look for our Policy Manager, Miles Hall, at the associated Global Energy Transition Leadership Summit June 25 – 27 in New York City! Reach out if you'd like to connect and discuss our innovative approach to FishSafe turbine design and sustainable hydropower. #netzero #cleantech #renewableenergy #innovation #technology

🎉 Today the province of Ontario in Canada is celebrating #WaterpowerDay! ⚡️💧 Intiated by Ontario Waterpower Association, Waterpower Day is an opportunity to acknowledge waterpower’s role as the backbone of the renewable energy sector. As decarbonization and electrification increase, flexible waterpower will play an even more important role in integrating other renewable resources. Currently about 25% of Ontario’s electricity comes from waterpower and some forecasts anticipate the need to double the province’s energy generated by water by 2050. At the same time, the average age of the Canadian hydroelectric fleet is 53 years old. As Ontario’s plants undergo necessary refurbishments to keep this critical resource online, there is a generational opportunity to upgrade the fleet with high-performance turbines that are safe for fish to pass through. By integrating FishSafe turbines into Ontario's existing hydropower plants we can ensure that the plants operate reliably with reduced maintenance and downtime, leading to increased energy output by virtue of modernized equipment, eliminating the need for fine exclusion screens, and reducing head loss to bypass flows. FishSafe Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT) retrofits protect and support the restoration of key migratory fish populations in Ontario, such as the American eel, which is currently listed in Ontario under Canada’s Endangered Species Act. By allowing fish to pass safely through hydro turbines, FishSafe RHTs can improve the operational efficiency and durability of Ontario's hydropower plants while simultaneously maintaining biodiversity and helping ensure the sustainability of Ontario’s waterways. Reach out to Gia Schneider or Harry Driscoll to learn more about how FishSafe turbines can support reliable, renewable power and ecosystem health in Ontario. #WaterpowerDay #WaterpowerDay2024 #RenewableEnergy #FreshwaterConservation #Fish #WithHydropower

⚡️Exciting news! We've kicked off a new study for Patriot Hydro LLC to assess the feasibility of installing FishSafe™ turbine retrofits at the Garvins Falls Hydropower Project on the Merrimack River in New Hampshire. Our team will be evaluating the integration of our innovative FishSafe™ Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT) technology, designed to modernize equipment and enhance downstream fish passage safety. 🐟 "This project underscores our commitment to sustainable hydropower solutions that prioritize both power performance and ecological integrity," said Harry Driscoll, Senior Manager of Sales at Natel Energy. "We are excited to partner with Patriot Hydro on this important initiative and look forward to delivering innovative solutions that provide more reliable, renewable hydropower and support enhanced fish protection." Read more below and stay tuned for more updates as we work to apply FishSafe™ solutions across the hydro fleet. https://lnkd.in/gwib75_7 #WithHydropower #FreshwaterBiodiversity #Innovation