The Next Chapter for The Clean Energy Future!
The National Hydropower Association’s Clean Current tradeshow + conference originated from in-depth industry listening sessions with our members in 2019. The waterpower community and NHA decided it was time to develop a bold, new event dedicated to the advancement of conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, and marine energy as reliable and flexible sources of clean energy—an event that, by virtue of being owned and produced by NHA, would reflect industry needs and benefit the industry through reinvestment of proceeds to advance waterpower.
Despite the challenges of launching an all-new event in the midst of a global pandemic, Clean Currents 2021 was held in the fall of 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. Attendance exceeded expectations, and the event was a success—99% of surveyed attendees agreed that Clean Currents 2021 proved to be a valuable experience*. Clean Currents 2022 will take this unique experience to the West Coast and promises to build on the success of 2021!
*Clean Currents 2021 Post-Event Survey. The percentage is based on survey respondents.
For the Industry. By the Industry.
Clean Currents is owned by the non-profit National Hydropower Association and is the only national waterpower tradeshow + conference that NHA is involved with. Proceeds from Clean Currents are reinvested back into the waterpower industry.
The Clean Currents Story
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 Meet Industry Needs
The constructive dialogue and insights gathered during our listening phase guided us to design the Clean Currents experience around:
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 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.
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 flows 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
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—1 in every 4 attendees of Clean Currents 2021 were asset owners. 39% of 2021 attendees were waterpower industry leaders and decision-makers.
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 brings together professionals from conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, marine energy, government agencies, regulators, NGOs and consultants. Clean Currents 2021 attracted a full spectrum of industry roles including executive leadership, engineers, portfolio managers, operations superintendents/managers, portfolio managers, general managers, and subject matter experts.
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 is unique, comprehensive, accessible to all and driven by industry thought leaders. Topics include safety, security, markets, environmental enhancement, engineering, operations and maintenance, licensing/regulatory, and more.
About NHA
The National Hydropower Association is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting the growth of clean, affordable US waterpower in all of its forms, ranging from conventional hydropower to pumped storage to marine energy. It seeks to secure waterpower’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable, and reliable energy source that serves national environmental, energy, and economic policy objectives.
NHA represents more than 250 organizations in the North American waterpower industry, from Fortune 500 corporations to family-owned small businesses. Our members include both public and investor-owned utilities, independent power producers, developers, manufacturers, product and service providers, environmental and engineering consultants, attorneys, and public policy, outreach, and education professionals.
All proceeds from Clean Currents will go directly toward funding the work of NHA
