Hydropower Without a Dam: Generate Power Decentrally at Canals

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Hydropower often remains unused where the current seems too weak. However, even weak currents can be harnessed: An American-German inventor duo developed a modular system consisting of a Hydro-Transition-Unit and paired rotors. The research project resulted in an internationally active, market-ready startup.

Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency, hydropower generates almost as much energy as all other renewable sources combined. Nevertheless, enormous potential remains untapped. Emily Morris and Professor Thorsten Stoesser have developed a decentralized hydropower plant that enables the utilization of new sites: it harnesses the flow of water in canals and waterways where conventional hydropower plants would not be economically viable. For their work, the inventor duo was selected as finalists in the "Non-EPO Countries" category of the European Inventor Award 2026.

How Can Hydropower Be Utilized in Existing Canals and Waterways?

Conventional hydropower plants come in various sizes, from large hydropower plants with dams to micro-hydropower plants, which usually utilize the natural water flow. In many of these smaller systems, the water flows past the turbines or moves through them at low speed, resulting in relatively low power generation.

The solution developed by Morris and Stoesser takes a new approach: the modular system generates electricity directly in existing canals. The core of the concept is a "Hydro-Transition Unit," which directs and narrows the water flow so that the water passes through the turbines at a higher speed. This accelerated water flow generates more energy in shallow, slow-moving waterways.

The system consists of paired, counter-rotating Darrieus rotors on a vertical axis—a configuration that is also suitable for shallow canals and variable water levels. Each module typically generates 5 to 25 kilowatts. The modular principle allows for gradual expansion of the system over time along a water channel. Standardized turbine components, modular channels, and assembly based on a cassette principle enable quick installation and removal of the modules for maintenance without interrupting the water flow.

The structural design of the Hydro-Transition Unit is intentionally simple and primarily relies on gravity and friction between the concrete foundation and the canal bed. The hydrodynamic forces acting on the unit can be calculated based on water pressure and flow conditions, allowing for a robust assessment of the system's stability. The development team then added an appropriate safety factor to ensure the unit remains stable during operation. This approach avoids complex anchoring or major structural interventions.

What began as a small scientific project with a single flume and a handful of students has evolved into a technology that is used in real canals.

Thorsten Stoesser, Professor, University College London

Inspiration through a Request from the Girl Scouts

The origin of the technology dates back to 2008. At the time, Stoesser was an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Girl Scouts of Georgia asked him about ways to generate electricity for their camp using tidal currents. This prompted Stoesser to begin testing hydrokinetic devices in a water channel. Around the same time, Morris was working at the company AMT on drivetrain technologies for shipping. When that project took a different direction, she recognized the potential to apply similar engineering concepts to electricity generation with hydropower in shallow waters.

Founding of the Company Emrgy

In 2014, Morris founded the company Emrgy in Atlanta to commercialize the technology. She combined Stoesser's research in hydrodynamics with a modular, scalable engineering approach. One of the biggest hurdles in commercialization was securing funding to move beyond laboratory experiments and small-scale tests. The early phases required patience, perseverance, and support, as the technology had to be tested, optimized, and validated step by step before being deemed reliable for real-world operation. The company then faced the challenging task of finding canal operators willing to take a calculated risk and implement a new technology in their infrastructure. Ultimately, the technical challenge was not only to make the system efficient but also to ensure it was robust, easy to use, and convincing in terms of long-term maintenance.

Pilot Project Proceeds as Planned

Thanks to a partnership with the city of Atlanta, the startup was able to test its system at full scale in a wastewater treatment plant and refine the concept of the "Hydro-Transition Unit." "Overall, the pilot project went largely as planned, which was encouraging as many of our assumptions from earlier development phases were confirmed," Stoesser and Morris state in writing. "The most significant technical challenge was the variability of water flow during normal operation. The flow rate changed by about 30 percent throughout the day, with the highest flow rates occurring in the late morning. This highlighted the importance of designing the system to operate efficiently and reliably under variable flow conditions—not just under ideal, steady conditions."

This early demonstration plant led to further projects, including one with Denver Water. The U.S. Department of Energy also supported the young company from the very beginning. Good communication and a strong technical concept helped build trust in the company and its technology. "Personal conversations were very important because they allowed us to clearly explain the technology and directly address concerns," the two founders report. "In the end, it was crucial to show that the potential outcome is significant, while the technical and financial risks are comparatively small and manageable."

Outlook: International Growth Plans

Today, Emrgy has agreements with 48 water and irrigation associations. These provide access to around 19,000 kilometers (approx. 11,800 miles)  of canal infrastructure in the U.S. and enable the gradual deployment of decentralized hydropower plants along existing waterways. The company is active not only in the U.S. but also in New Zealand. Deployment in other countries, such as Italy and Thailand, is planned. Irrigation canals and the tailwater channels of hydropower plants are particularly promising from the provider's perspective, as they often feature predictable flows and similar operational requirements in many regions of the world. Although regulatory frameworks differ from country to country, the fundamental technical and permitting issues in these controlled water systems are often comparable.