# How to build more hydropower

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-04-20
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower

## Summary

Gia Schneider, co-founder and CEO of Natel Energy, discusses the potential to double global hydropower capacity by shifting from massive mega-dams to smaller, distributed projects that minimize ecosystem disruption. She explains how Natel’s fish-safe turbine technology, featuring thick leading edges and swooping blades, allows fish to pass through turbines with near 100% survival rates without compromising power output. Schneider also highlights the critical role of run-of-river designs, improved hydrology forecasting, and natural infrastructure like beaver dams in managing water resources and recharging groundwater amid climate change.

## Chapters

- [2:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=143) Introduction and Global Hydro Potential
- [5:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=337) How Hydropower Works and Grid Benefits
- [11:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=662) Ecosystem Impacts and River Disruption
- [17:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=1062) The Case for Distributed and Smaller Projects
- [24:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=1450) Run-of-River and Hydrokinetic Technologies
- [41:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=2503) Fish-Safe Turbine Design and Natel Energy
- [33:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower#t=2005) Climate Change, Water Management, and Policy

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Natel Energy (company)
- Hoover Dam (product)
- Aswan High Dam (product)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Scale Microgrids (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Developing an Environmentally-Friendly and Fish-Saving Hydropower Turbine with Abe Schneider, Co-founder and CTO of Natel Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-09-15-developing-an-environmentally-friendly-and-fish-saving-hydropower-turbine-with-a) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [232. Turbine Innovations For A Greener Future [Rerun]](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [87. Turbine Innovations For A Greener Future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-09-13-87-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Onshore Wave Energy: 90% Availability, Transforming Renewable Power Generation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-10-02-onshore-wave-energy-90-availability-transforming-renewable-power-generation) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.