A new hydropower turbine installed at the 603 MW Ice Harbor concrete gravity run-of-river powerhouse on the Snake River in Washington demonstrated improved fish passage survival rates. Turbine designer Voith Hydro The new design achieved a survival rate of 98.25% for fish passing through the turbine. Source: Voith Hydroreports a 98.25% survival rate during preliminary tests, representing a considerable gain over the 90% survival rate typical for similarly sized Kaplan turbines.

The performance of the new propeller turbine was tested in late 2019, using sensors within the turbine intakes to collect pressure and acceleration data during operation. Live juvenile chinook salmon fitted with balloon tags were also released, monitored as they traveled downstream through the turbine and then collected for examination.

The improved fixed-blade turbine design will translate into increased direct survival rates for juvenile fish migrating downstream after hatching while also maintaining high renewable energy generation capabilities for the region. A Kaplan turbine with adjustable blades designed using the same fish-passage evaluation process is now being installed by Voith and will undergo similar testing.