Welcome to our weekly newsletter where we showcase environmental trends and solutions driving us towards a more sustainable world.
Hey, I’m Alexandra. We recently uncovered a concerning situation where eels are perishing in large numbers at hydro dams. If this were birds and windmills, there would likely be significant public outcry. These aquatic creatures deserve safe passage through their habitats. Here’s a company developing a technological fix for this issue.
This week’s highlights include:
– Ongoing eel fatalities at hydro dam turbines. A new design could prevent these tragedies.
– Understanding the functionality of heat pumps.
– Unveiling the reason behind an airship sighting over a central Alberta town.
Every year, endangered American eels embark on a perilous journey down the St. Lawrence River towards their breeding grounds in the Caribbean. Tragically, many of them collide with the turbine blades of hydroelectric dams along the river, contributing to a drastic 99% population decline since the 1970s.
Natel Energy, a California-based startup specializing in fish-friendly turbines, has developed a turbine runner that aims to eliminate these fatalities without compromising power generation efficiency. The company’s vice-president of external affairs, Kate Stirr, emphasized that their study demonstrates that protecting fish does not have to come at the expense of power generation.
American eels play a crucial role in Canada’s ecosystem as the only true catadromous species, migrating from the ocean to freshwater bodies like Lake Ontario for up to two decades before returning to the sea to spawn. Their declining numbers, attributed to overfishing, habitat loss, and hydroelectric dams, have prompted conservation efforts.
Natel’s innovative “FishSafe” turbine design, featuring curved blades and a protective leading edge, aims to minimize harm to passing fish. Computer simulations suggest that this design could increase the survival rate of American eels passing through hydro dams to 98%, while maintaining operational efficiency.
The company is engaging with Canadian firms and has already successfully deployed its turbine runners in France, complying with regulations protecting European eels. By prioritizing fish survival, Natel Energy hopes to revolutionize the conservation of the American eel population.
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– Alexandra Mae Jones