Through the 1800s America’s industrial success was propelled by hydropower, think: waterwheels. Now Energy is bringing 21st century innovations to this original reliable renewable energy technology to meet the nation’s ever-increasing thirst for 24/7 zero-carbon electricity to drive a thriving American economy.

We are on an audacious track to build over $1 billion of new hydroelectric facilities on existing US Army Corps and private dams by the end of this exciting energy decade. All of our facilities are thoughtfully engineered with CAPEX-efficient construction means and methods that even migrating fish species approve of.

Now Energy returns the water that turns our turbines back to the river without a temperature increase, and importantly, with an increase in dissolved oxygen which is vital for our nation’s riverine health.

And of course, we turn electricity into 100+ years of free cash flow with over 10% unlevered returns.

Now Energy has partnered with Natel Energy to deepen the new conversation between the hydro industry, regulators, and the river community. Natel’s patented FishSafe™ Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT) runner designs feature thick, forward-swept blades that allow fish to pass safely downstream through the turbine without compromising on power production. This unique shape is informed by laboratory blade strike studies, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, and numerous fish passage tests.

We are also involved in various working groups in the Uncommon Dialogue to bring rationality to which existing dams should be removed, which should be rehabilitated to ensure public safety, and which non-powered dams are appropriate for 21st century hydropower.

Now Energy’s site-controlled project on the Hudson River north of Albany.

Now Energy’s design philosophy for low-head, run-of-river sites safeguards 2/3 of the river flow and apportions just 1/3 of flow to the hydropower system. This allows the turbine array to utilize over 90% of the river’s hydraulic capacity.

The turbines’ nameplate capacity is tightly coupled to the upper end of the river’s flow duration curve, allowing efficient use of the turbines and their associated capital expense, and resulting in plant capacity factors over 75%. The average capacity factor for the old-school hydro industry is 35-40%.

The benefits of this approach are:

  • provides a firm, dispatchable renewable energy resource that can command a premium price to intermittent sources of generation

  • facilitates fish passage

  • increases dissolved oxygen levels for riverine health

We collapse the time from site selection to commercial operation date (COD) by partnering with all stakeholders on Day One, on every project. Our approach eliminates project friction as everyone feels part ownership in the process of making the nation’s grid better, cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable. Typical project stakeholders:

Tribal nations
River communities
Marine and civil contractors
Turbine and electrical OEMs
Federal agencies: FERC, USACE, USFWS, BLM
State agencies: DNRs, DEPs, DECs
Local municipalities
US senators and house members
Regional Transmission Organizations
Utilities on distribution interconnections
Hyperscaler companies
Hard-to-decarbonize industries
Energy exchanges: ICE, LevelTen, IOUs
National labs: PNNL, INL, ORNL, NREL
National Hydropower Association
DOE Water Power Technology Office
DOE Loan Program Office

For centuries, dams have been built from cast-in-place concrete, roller compacted concrete, earth, stone, or other building materials. Today, dams and other types of civil water infrastructure must be constructed faster, be of top quality, offer less risk, be environmentally sound, reduce labor and complexity, and be more easily permitted and maintained.

To achieve all this, and remain cost competitive, FDE Hydro developed and patented the French Dam from real-world, practical experience using precast concrete and other modular components.  FDE Hydro took a proven, accepted construction use and created an innovative, “disruptive technology” for the water industry.

Monroe Drop Hydro
Monroe, Oregon

Our 300-kW facility has been in profitable operation since 2020, and was instrumental in fish passage testing by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The scientists verified that large adult rainbow trout passed through the facility’s Natel FishSafe turbine with 98-100% immediate survival and no detectable injuries. Monroe Drop is LIHI-certified.

Apple Computer is an off taker of energy credits.

Read more on the US Department of Energy site.

Sweetheart Lake Hydro
Juneau, Alaska

Now Energy is involved with Juneau Hydropower’s 20MW new build project which will cut the entire city of Juneau’s carbon footprint by 15%. We are structuring the equity financing of this $250M shovel-ready project which begins construction in Q1 2025. The Alaskan weather environment and seismically active geology is not the most conducive to time-efficient builds, so we are also working with Juneau Hydropower to bring innovative rapid-build means and methods that will ensure that the Sweetheart Hydro facility will be standing and producing power well into the 22nd century.

NYSE:CDE is an off taker with a 10-year PPA.

Renew Hydro LLC
New York State

Now Energy is the management firm overseeing restoration of five historic hydroelectric facilities with financial assistance of the NY State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). We will be bringing each facility back to its pristine glory with state-of-the-art electronic control systems, some with new Natel turbines, dam safety upgrades, and fish passage devices.

Unlike other renewable technologies, hydro equipment can operate for one hundred years with proper maintenance. We fully intend to ensure these five plants will be providing clean 24/7 electricity in the year 2125.

1910 postcard of the Goodyear Lake Hydroelectric Dam

Hydro History repeats itself to power America in the 21st century and into the 22nd.