What Hydro Green Energy does

Hydro Green Energy, LLC is a privately held renewable energy company founded in 2002 by Wayne Krouse and currently headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company specializes in developing hydropower projects and proprietary hydropower technologies targeting existing non-powered dam and lock infrastructure, primarily at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facilities. Its core technology stack comprises four patented platforms: Lock+™ (power-generating lock gates that convert navigational locks into renewable waterpower facilities), Hydro+™ (hydrokinetic systems deployable downstream from existing hydropower plants without new impoundments), Efficiency+™ (energy recovery at thermal plant cooling water discharges), and a Modular Bulb Turbine designed to reduce environmental impact and development timelines relative to conventional hydropower. The company holds 20 issued U.S. and international patents with 100+ additional patents pending, and received the 2009 National Hydropower Association President's Award.

The company operates a B2B enterprise model serving government, municipal, and regional utility customers. Commercial activity is structured through wholly-owned project-development subsidiaries (Lock+™ Hydro Friends Fund XLII for Braddock; Fund XII for Hepburn Street Dam; Fund XXIX for the Columbia lock project) and direct technology licensing to developers and municipalities. Named counterparties include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Hastings, Minnesota, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The operational asset base today is small: the Hastings hydrokinetic station (250 kW total, the nation's first commercial FERC-licensed hydrokinetic installation, approved December 2008) is the only revenue-generating project. The 5.25 MW Braddock Locks and Dam project holds a 50-year FERC license (issued July 2015) and LIHI certification, with risk assessment completed in July 2025 and construction expected to commence late Q1 2026. Pipeline assets include the 100 MW Melvin Price project, 100 MW Lock 25 and Lock 24 projects on the Mississippi River, a proposed 22 MW Claiborne Lock and Dam project in Alabama, a 500+ MW portfolio across nine states, and a 7.5 GW pumped storage portfolio in California. Forward strategy includes green hydrogen production via PEM/electrolysis at hydropower sites (planned 26,400 metric tons/year at Melvin Price) and long-duration energy storage.

Revenue mechanics are project-based and not publicly disclosed. Historical funding is limited: a $2.6 million Series A in April 2008 led by the Quercus Trust and $1.8 million in U.S. Department of Energy competitive grants in September 2011 are the only disclosed capital inflows. The company employs 1–10 people, generating pricing is not disclosed, and customer concentration is essentially 100% government/municipal. GTM motion is enterprise field sales with extended permitting timelines managed via FERC licensing expertise and USACE partnerships. Distribution is direct enterprise sales domestically plus technology licensing as an OEM/white-label channel domestically and internationally.

Name

Hydro Green Energy

Legal name

Hydro Green Energy, LLC

Website

https://hgenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hydro Green Energy is a private hydropower development company that designs modular and hydrokinetic technologies for deployment at existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lock and dam infrastructure, serving municipal utilities, regional utilities, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydropower Project Development and Licensing

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing (333611), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydropower Project Development & Permitting (Greenfield, Licensing, Water Rights) (EUAMADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydropower Turbines, Generators & Balance-of-Plant Equipment Manufacturing (EUAMAHAF), Hydropower Modernization, Refurbishment & Uprates (Re-powering, Efficiency Upgrades) (EUAMADAF), Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Spares, Performance) (EUAMADAE)

Keywords

• Modular hydropower systems
• Hydrokinetic power generation
• Green hydrogen production
• Pumped energy storage
• Renewable energy development

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Project Development and Electricity Sales: Hydro Green Energy develops hydropower projects at existing infrastructure and generates revenue through the sale of electricity produced. Projects like Braddock (5.25 MW) and Melvin Price (100 MW) produce baseload renewable energy for regional consumption.
2. Technology Licensing: The company licenses its patented hydropower technologies to other developers and municipalities in the U.S. and internationally. The technology can reduce project costs by 40-50% compared to conventional hydropower systems.
3. Green Hydrogen Production: Using PEM or electrolysis to split water with renewable energy to produce green hydrogen. Projects at Melvin Price Locks and Dam, Mississippi River Lock 25, and Lock 24 are planned for green hydrogen production.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hydro Green Energy develops and licenses patented modular hydropower and hydrokinetic technologies (Lock+, Hydro+, Efficiency+, Modular Bulb Turbine) deployed at existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lock and dam infrastructure to generate clean baseload electricity, produce green hydrogen, and enable long-duration pumped energy storage. The company finances, develops, and operates hydropower projects across multiple U.S. states while licensing its technology to other developers and municipalities.

Product overview

Hydro Green Energy is a hydropower development company offering patented waterpower technologies for renewable energy generation. The portfolio includes: (1) Lock+™ technology for power-generating lock gates at existing navigational dams, (2) Hydro+™ hydrokinetic systems for deployment downstream from existing hydropower facilities, (3) Efficiency+™ for energy recovery at thermal power plant cooling systems, (4) modular hydropower systems with patented Modular Bulb Turbine technology, (5) operational hydroelectric projects including Braddock (5.25 MW, LIHI certified), Melvin Price (100 MW), and Hastings (250 kW hydrokinetic), (6) green hydrogen production using PEM/electrolysis at hydropower sites, and (7) long duration energy storage via pumped storage projects totaling over 7.5 GW. The company develops projects across multiple US states and holds 20+ US and international patents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lock+™: Patented power-generating lock gate technology deployed in the downstream portion of navigational locks, converting facilities into renewable waterpower facilities.
• Hydro+™
• Efficiency+™

Products and services

• Braddock Locks and Dam Hydropower Project A 5.25 MW low-head hydroelectric facility being developed at the existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Braddock Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. LIHI certified and FERC licensed for 50 years.
• Melvin Price Locks and Dam Hydropower Project A 100 MW hydropower project located approximately 5 miles northeast of St. Louis, MO on the Mississippi River.
• Hastings Hydrokinetic Power Station The nation's first commercial hydrokinetic power station, deployed downstream from the City of Hastings' 4.4 MW run-of-river hydropower plant at USACE Lock & Dam No. 2 on the Mississippi River. Total capacity 250 kW from two hydrokinetic units.
• Claiborne Lock and Dam Hydropower Project A 22 MW proposed hydropower project in Alabama, expected to generate approximately 105,000 MWh annually. Ranks 8th on DOE's Top 100 Non-Powered Dams.
• Green Hydrogen Production Clean hydrogen production using proton exchange membranes (PEM) or electrolysis powered by renewable hydropower. Melvin Price project estimated at 26,400 metric tons per year; Lock 25 and Lock 24 at 12,700 metric tons each per year.
• Long Duration Pumped Storage Projects Pumped storage projects including HGE Energy Storage 1 (1,250 MW / 10,000 MWh near San Francisco) and multiple California projects including Vandenberg AFB (1,350 MW), Lake Shasta (1,120 MW), Lake Oroville (1,260 MW), Lake Barrett (1,320 MW), Whiskeytown Lake (1,200 MW), and Lake Casitas (1,330 MW), totaling over 7.5 GW of capacity.
• Lock+™ Technology Licensing A patented power-generating lock gate technology deployed in the downstream portion of an auxiliary or active navigational lock, converting existing non-powered lock and dam infrastructure into renewable waterpower facilities. Licensed to developers and municipalities.
• Hydro+™ Technology Licensing A hydrokinetic technology platform deployable downstream from existing hydropower facilities, allowing new environmentally-friendly power generation within the existing project footprint without requiring new dams or impoundments. Licensed to developers and municipalities.
• Efficiency+™ Technology Licensing A patented technology for power generation at cooling water discharge systems at thermal power plants (coal, nuclear) for energy recovery or energy efficiency purposes. Licensed to developers and municipalities.
• Modular Bulb Turbine (MBT) Licensing Proprietary hydropower turbine technology designed to minimize environmental impacts and development timelines of traditional hydropower installations. Licensed to developers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces project costs by 40-50% compared to conventional hydropower systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Engevix (Brazil)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2011Joint development agreement between Hydro Green Energy of the United States and Engevix of Brazil for hydropower development in the U.S. Midwest.
• City of Hastings, MinnesotaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Hastings for deployment of Hydro+™ project downstream from the city's 4.4 MW run-of-river hydropower plant at USACE Lock & Dam No. 2. The Hastings Project is the nation's first commercial hydrokinetic power station.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USACE for hydropower development at existing navigational lock and dam infrastructure. Projects include Braddock Locks and Dam (Monongahela River), Melvin Price Locks and Dam (Mississippi River), and multiple other USACE facilities.
• Lock+™ Hydro Friends Fund entitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned project development subsidiaries including Lock+™ Hydro Friends Fund XLII (Braddock project), Fund XII (Hepburn Street Dam), and Fund XXIX (Columbia lock project).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Innergex Renewable Energy: Canadian-listed renewable IPP with a portfolio of run-of-river, hydroelectric, and storage projects primarily in Canada, the U.S., and Latin America. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy on small/mid-scale hydropower project development and operations across multiple geographies.
• Northland Power: Canadian-listed independent power producer with a long-standing portfolio of hydroelectric and offshore wind projects. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy on the small/mid hydropower IPP model and asset-heavy project development approach.
• Andritz: Global supplier of turbines, generators, and complete electro-mechanical equipment for hydropower plants, including small and low-head applications. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy as the dominant incumbent OEM whose equipment Hydro Green Energy's technology is positioned to displace or complement.
• Voith Hydro: Established large-hydro turbine and generator manufacturer with extensive installed base worldwide. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy on the turbine technology and hydropower equipment side, providing scale benchmarks against which Hydro Green Energy's modular approach competes.
• GE Vernova: GE's spun-off energy business including a substantial hydropower and grid solutions franchise (legacy GE Renewable Energy hydro division). Comparable to Hydro Green Energy as an established hydropower OEM providing large-scale turbines, generators, and digital optimization.
• Brookfield Renewable Partners: One of the world's largest publicly listed renewable IPPs with significant hydroelectric and pumped storage operating capacity. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy on the hydropower and pumped storage development/IPP business model, with dramatically greater scale and operational maturity.

Direct peers

• Verdant Power: Pioneer in hydrokinetic turbine deployments in river environments, with installations in New York's East River. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy on hydrokinetic technology positioning, FERC engagement, and small-MW-scale pilot projects.
• Natel Energy: Developer of modular, low-head hydropower turbines designed for deployment at existing water infrastructure and non-powered dam sites. Directly comparable to Hydro Green Energy's Modular Bulb Turbine and Lock+ approach to retrofitting existing dams.
• Mavel a.s. Czech manufacturer of small and low-head hydropower turbines up to approximately 30 MW, focused on modular and standardized equipment. Comparable to Hydro Green Energy on small modular hydro turbine equipment, run-of-river retrofit applications, and the equipment manufacturing side of the business.
• Ocean Renewable Power Company: U.S.-based developer of hydrokinetic and tidal energy technology targeting riverine and marine sites. Closely comparable to Hydro Green Energy given similar hydrokinetic product positioning, project development focus, and federal regulatory pathway with FERC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydro-green-energy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydro Green Energy