Hydrokinetic energy harnesses naturally occurring water flows, such as tides, ocean currents, and rivers. One key advantage is that it does not require stream impoundment—turbines can be installed with minimal civil works while preserving the natural flow. While hydropower remains a crucial resource for future renewable energy production, most high potential sites in Europe and the U.S. have already been developed. This creates a significant opportunity to explore hydrokinetic energy in rivers. Rivers provide a continuous and localized source of kinetic energy that can be utilized near population centers worldwide, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
At STREEM Lab, we address this potential through three key research areas:
- River-environment interactions – How do turbines interact with the physical river environment, including bathymetry and planimetry? What are the local and non-local impacts? Can we integrate this technology with stream restoration projects to create synergies?
- Resource characterization – Where are the most energetic river sites in Europe and Switzerland? Can hydrokinetic energy benefit rural communities? Could existing artificial canals be leveraged for development?
- Cost reduction – How can we improve turbine designs while minimizing costs?
