Natel Energy’s modular hydropower concept, Restoration Hydro, features the Restoration Hydro Turbine and aims to expand hydropower while promoting safe fish passage and watershed restoration. The design process began with site selection prioritizing watershed restoration alongside hydropower, focusing on alluvial pockets where floodplains meet confined river reaches. This setup is ideal for floodplain reconnection, aquifer recharge, and wildlife habitat enhancement. Collaborating partners, including UC Berkeley and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, developed designs supporting fish and sediment passage. The project established a framework for identifying modular hydropower sites and future facility designs.
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