Building a Fish-Friendly Turbine

Gia Schneider's company, Natel Energy, aims to solve the problem of hydroelectric power harming fish. To achieve this, they have designed a turbine with a leading edge that mitigates fish mortality. The blade's thick leading edge and rounded shape minimize the chances of direct strikes and create a deflection zone that helps fish navigate through without harm. Through extensive testing, the turbine was found to have less than 2% fish mortality, compared to the average 20% with conventional turbines. The turbine is also designed to maintain high power generation efficiency, with its performance reaching up to 93%. This innovation provides a fish-safe solution for upgrading existing hydroelectric plants.