Welcome to our weekly newsletter that focuses on environmental trends and solutions driving us towards a more sustainable future.
Hi, I’m Alexandra. When we encountered the report about eels perishing in large numbers at hydro dams, we couldn’t help but think: if this were birds and wind turbines, there would be an outcry. Our aquatic pals deserve safe passage through their habitats. Here’s a company developing a technological fix for this issue.
This week:
– Eels facing mortality in hydro dam turbines. A novel design could alter the situation.
– The Big Picture: Understanding the functionality of a heat pump.
– The mystery of an airship hovering over a central Alberta town.
Eels encountering fatal encounters with turbine blades at hydroelectric dams along the St. Lawrence River are contributing to a significant decline in their population, with a survival rate of only 74% at one power plant. Natel Energy proposes a new turbine runner design to address this issue without compromising power generation efficiency.
American eels, the sole true catadromous species in Canada, undertake a challenging journey from the ocean to freshwater habitats like Lake Ontario before returning to the ocean to spawn. The decline in eel numbers is concerning due to factors such as overfishing, habitat loss, and hydroelectric dams.
Natel Energy, a California startup specializing in fish-friendly turbines, has developed a turbine runner to prevent eel fatalities without impacting power generation efficiency. This innovation aims to demonstrate that safeguarding fish does not have to come at the cost of power generation.
The new “FishSafe” turbine design by Natel features curved blades with a thick, blunt leading edge to minimize harm to fish struck by the rotating blades. Computer simulations suggest that this design could increase the survival rate of American eels passing through to 98%.
The innovative blade design not only maintains efficiency but can be easily incorporated into existing systems without extensive overhauls. Natel Energy is optimistic that this solution will encourage hydro dam operators to prioritize fish survival while modernizing their facilities.
The company has engaged with Canadian firms and successfully tested its turbine runners at a plant in France to comply with regulations protecting European eels. The technology has shown promise in safeguarding eel populations and could be a game-changer in conservation efforts.
For further inquiries, feel free to reach out to us at whatonearth@cbc.ca. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for our next newsletter delivery every Thursday.
Editor: Emily Chung | Logo design: Sködt McNalty