About Clean Currents 2023

The vision was an event dedicated to advancing 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:

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.

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.

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 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.

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—1 in every 3 attendees of Clean Currents 2022 was an asset owner. 39% of 2021 attendees were waterpower industry leaders and decision-makers.

A Bigger Tent

Prior to the formation of Clean Currents, there wasn’t one event that would allow 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 2022 attracted a full spectrum of industry roles, including executive leadership, engineers, portfolio managers, operations superintendents/managers, portfolio managers, general managers, and subject matter experts.

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 is unique, comprehensive, accessible, and driven by industry thought leaders. Topics include safety, security, markets, environmental enhancement, engineering, operations and maintenance, licensing/regulatory, and more.