Introducing the All-New Waterpower Industry Experience

Clean Currents 2021 is the all-new, official waterpower tradeshow + conference of the National Hydropower Association—promoted by North American waterpower to benefit the industry. Conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro and marine energy are already flexible and renewable clean energy sources. Clean Currents will showcase innovative solutions, thought leadership and exclusive educational opportunities to ensure that the advantages of hydropower remain relevant long into the future.

For the Industry.
By the Industry.

All proceeds from Clean Currents will go directly toward funding the activities and work of NHA.

Exhibit sales are now open!

By the Industry. For the Industry. For Now and Into the Future.

The headwaters that formed the National Hydropower Association’s Clean Currents tradeshow + conference originate from a desire throughout the waterpower community that it was time for the industry, in particular NHA, to develop a bold, new event that would bring the industry together for the betterment of the industry.

The vision was an event dedicated to the advancement of conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro and marine energy as reliable and flexible sources of clean energy now and into the future. This vision aligned with NHA’s growth and evolution in its leadership to position waterpower for success in the decades to come.

We Began With Industry Feedback …

We started by listening to waterpower’s generators, manufacturers and suppliers. In 2018, NHA began to solicit input from members and non-members on industry event wants and needs. Our process included in-depth listening sessions with NHA members.

As a result of the input we were gathering, the NHA Board of Directors created a “New Event” Advisory Committee in 2019. The committee was charged with setting in motion a plan to develop a new waterpower event that would launch in 2021.

… Then Created Clean Currents to Answer Identified Gaps and Needs

The constructive dialogue and insights gathered during our listening phase identified the following gaps and needs that Clean Currents 2021 wIll address:

Reinvestment in our Industry

A key driver in the creation of Clean Currents was the observation by NHA and industry representatives that the returns on investments in national events were not necessarily flowing back into the industry. Revenue raised was not invested directly back into advancing waterpower.

Proceeds from Clean Currents will fund NHA’s work to secure hydropower’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable and reliable energy source that serves national environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives.

Innovation and Growth

We identified a need for a “space” that would foster industry research and development, information exchange and innovation. This is critical to help the industry grow its current 101 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by nearly 50 GW, by 2050 as outlined in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower Vision report, published in 2016. Facilitating innovation is also critical to harnessing the potential 90 GW from marine energy estimated by the U.S. hydropower industry.

We’re thinking forward! A spirit of innovation and growth will flow through all aspects of Clean Currents—from conference programming to the tradeshow floor. Together, we will explore ways to leverage promising new technologies along with proven products and solutions to increase hydropower generation.

PATHWAYS FOR INCREASING HYDROPOWER GENERATION

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Hydropower Vision Report

A Better Mix of Attendee Types

There was a general consensus among those we spoke with that other national hydropower events don’t offer the desired mix of owner/operator attendees and industry vendors, which are over-represented.

Asset owners support Clean Currents. 85% of the asset owners in North America are NHA members and to date more than two dozen of these entities have already indicated they will participate.

View Participating Asset Owners

A Bigger Tent

Prior to the formation of Clean Currents, there wasn’t one event that would offer the opportunity for all sectors of the waterpower industry to convene, communicate and collaborate.

Clean Currents will bring together professionals from conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, marine energy, government agencies, regulators, NGOs and consultants on topics such as safety, security, markets, environmental enhancement, engineering, and licensing/relicensing.

Expanded Education

Industry perceptions of education opportunities available at other national events are that they are too focused on technical education or that the content changes little from year to year. Furthermore, exhibiting organizations do not have access to educational programming.

Clean Currents’ educational programming will be unique, comprehensive, accessible to all and driven by industry thought leaders. In addition to technical programming, there will be learning opportunities for a wide-range of interests including: market opportunities, governance, professional management, policy, safety, workforce development and re-licensing/licensing.

See what Mike Haynes, Chief Operating Officer of Seattle City Light, has to say about the importance of Clean Currents.

See what Herbie Johnson, General Manager of Southern Company, has to say about the importance of Clean Currents.

We’re a tight-knit community that can only grow stronger by expanding our circle and coming together as an industry. Because we ARE the industry, and we’re all behind Clean Currents, this will be a perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues we’ve known for years as we meet new folks from every corner of the industry and career stage! Let’s bring it home to Atlanta, GA.

“NHA’s Clean Currents” creatively communicates the focus of NHA’s new annual industry event. Its inclusion of “Clean” underscores that waterpower is considered a “clean” energy resource and will help further promote this position.

“Currents” on its surface is a nod to the movement of water as well as the concept of “electrical currents.” Its second meaning is inspired by the event’s promise to be the source for new ideas and innovation. By attending NHA’s Clean Currents, participants will remain on top of the latest industry developments as well as get a window into the future of the industry.

The National Hydropower Association is the only U.S. nonprofit trade association dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of the North American hydropower industry, including conventional, pumped storage, small hydro and new marine and hydrokinetic technologies.

NHA is dedicated to promoting the growth of clean, affordable waterpower in all of its forms. The association seeks to secure waterpower’s place as a renewable and reliable energy source that serves environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives.

NHA represents more than 250 companies working in the waterpower industry, from Fortune 500 corporations to family-owned small businesses. Our members include public and investor-owned utilities, independent power producers, developers, manufacturers, environmental and engineering consultants, attorneys, and public policy, outreach, and education professionals.