# 232. Turbine Innovations For A Greener Future [Rerun]

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2025-11-04
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun-6hykRpSX

## Summary

Hosts discuss MIT research on optimizing wind farm output through software that coordinates turbine yaw to reduce wake interference, yielding a 1.2-3% efficiency gain. They then profile Natal Energy, a startup founded by siblings Gia and Abe Schneider, which designs fish-friendly hydro turbines with rounded blades to mitigate environmental damage while maintaining 90%+ efficiency. The episode highlights how these incremental hardware and software tweaks can significantly boost global renewable energy capacity without new construction.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=0) Introduction: Rerun of Episode 87 on Green Energy
- [1:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=118) Wind Farm Wake Interference and MIT's Flow Model
- [8:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=530) Software Optimization Results: 1.2-3% Efficiency Gain
- [12:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=776) Natal Energy: Founding Story of Gia and Abe Schneider
- [16:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=979) Environmental Impact of Traditional Hydropower and Dams
- [19:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=1141) Natal Energy's Fish-Friendly Turbine Design
- [23:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-04-232-turbine-innovations-for-a-greener-future-rerun#t=1417) Retrofitting Existing Dams and Global Energy Potential

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- MIT (other)
- Dominion Energy (company)
- Natal Energy (company)
- Gia Schneider (other)
- Abe Schneider (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How to build more hydropower](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-04-20-how-to-build-more-hydropower) (Catalyst)
- [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)
- [Trailer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-06-07-trailer) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Transforming Wind with Erika Boeing, CEO & Founder of Accelerate Wind](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-06-09-transforming-wind-with-erika-boeing-ceo-founder-of-accelerate-wind) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [What It’s Really Going to Take to Save the Planet: Lessons from 2024](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-01-02-what-its-really-going-to-take-to-save-the-planet-lessons-from-2024) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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