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Fish Friendly Turbine Market

The market for Fish Friendly Turbine was estimated at $1.5 billion in 2025; it is anticipated to increase to $2.1 billion by 2030, with projections indicating growth to around $3.0 billion by 2035.

Report ID:DS2401023
Author:Chandra Mohan - Sr. Industry Consultant
Published Date:
Datatree
Energy & Power
Power Generation
Fish Friendly Turbine
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Report Summary
Market Data
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Table of Contents

Global Fish Friendly Turbine Market Outlook

Revenue, 2025

$1.5B

Forecast, 2035

$3.0B

CAGR, 2026 - 2035

7.6%

The Fish Friendly Turbine industry revenue is expected to be around $1.5 billion in 2026 and expected to showcase growth with 7.6% CAGR between 2026 and 2035. This robust expansion underscores the strategic importance of Fish Friendly Turbine technology within modern hydropower portfolios, as hydroelectric utilities and independent power producers, which together account for 86.8% of end-user demand, prioritize equipment that reconciles renewable generation with aquatic ecosystems protection and long-term asset reliability. Ongoing investments in upgrading existing hydropower plants, repowering aging infrastructure, and integrating fish-friendly hydropower solutions into new renewable energy projects are being accelerated by stricter environmental regulations and growing stakeholder scrutiny of river biodiversity. At the same time, national and regional grid decarbonization targets are reinforcing the role of flexible, low-impact hydroelectric capacity, positioning Fish Friendly Turbines as a preferred choice for operators seeking to enhance compliance, maintain social license to operate, and secure green financing. Collectively, these dynamics are cementing the technology’s relevance as a critical enabler of sustainable hydropower growth across both mature and emerging markets.

Fish Friendly Turbine systems are engineered with advanced blade geometries, optimized flow passages, and controlled pressure profiles to significantly improve fish survival rates during turbine passage while maintaining high hydraulic efficiency and operational flexibility. In 2025, the Kaplan Turbine type dominated the Fish Friendly Turbine industry with approximately $1.35 billion in sales, reflecting its suitability for variable-head sites, run-of-river schemes, and retrofits in existing dams where balancing performance and biological protection is essential. Key applications span large utility-scale stations, small hydropower installations, and modernization projects where operators seek to increase output without constructing new barriers or compromising river connectivity. Recent market trends include the use of computational fluid dynamics for rotor-stator optimization, integration of real-time monitoring and digital twins to validate fish-friendly performance, and the alignment of turbine procurement criteria with broader ESG frameworks. These developments are collectively driving stronger demand for fish-friendly hydropower solutions as project developers and asset owners seek technologies that simultaneously support renewable energy projects expansion and safeguard riverine ecosystems.

Fish Friendly Turbine market outlook with forecast trends, drivers, opportunities, supply chain, and competition 2025-2035
Fish Friendly Turbine Market Outlook

Market Key Insights

  • The Fish Friendly Turbine market is projected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2025 to $3.0 billion in 2035. This represents a CAGR of 7.6%, reflecting rising demand across Hydropower Generation, Marine Ecosystem Conservation, and Aquaculture Industry.

  • General Electric Company, Voith GmbH, and Andritz AG are among the leading players in this market, shaping its competitive landscape.

  • U.S. and China are the top markets within the Fish Friendly Turbine market and are expected to observe the growth CAGR of 4.9% to 7.3% between 2025 and 2030.

  • Emerging markets including India, Brazil and South Africa are expected to observe highest growth with CAGR ranging between 8.7% to 10.5%.

  • Transition like Transition to Sustainable Energy is expected to add $158 million to the Fish Friendly Turbine market growth by 2030.

  • The Fish Friendly Turbine market is set to add $1.6 billion between 2025 and 2035, with manufacturer targeting IPPs & Renewable Energy Developers Application projected to gain a larger market share.

  • With

    rise in eco-friendly power generation, and

    Technological Advancements in Design, Fish Friendly Turbine market to expand 108% between 2025 and 2035.

fish friendly turbine market size with pie charts of major and emerging country share, CAGR, trends for 2025 and 2032
Fish Friendly Turbine - Country Share Analysis

Opportunities in the Fish Friendly Turbine

Across the European Union, tightening river ecology standards are accelerating demand for Fish Friendly Turbine installations in medium-head run-of-river schemes and plant modernizations. Utilities must simultaneously increase renewable output and demonstrate aquatic ecosystem protection, making fish-safe hydropower retrofits commercially attractive. Global adoption of Kaplan Turbine based Fish Friendly Turbine designs is also forecast to rise from $1.35 billion in 2025 to $1.94 billion by 2030, a 7.5% CAGR, with Western and Northern Europe expected to command the fastest growth in upgrade-focused deployments across diverse watershed modernization programs.

Growth Opportunities in North America and Europe

In North America, Hydroelectric Utilities are the primary end-users for Fish Friendly Turbine solutions, driven by stringent environmental regulations, aging infrastructure, and heightened scrutiny over migratory fish protection. The main opportunity lies in large-scale hydropower modernization and dam retrofits, where utilities seek proven fish passage technology that can be integrated with existing civil structures and grid assets. Competition is defined by a few established turbine OEMs and specialized ecological engineering firms, with differentiation increasingly based on field-validated fish survival data, lifecycle service models, and digital monitoring of fish-safe hydropower operations. Suppliers that position Fish Friendly Turbine portfolios around flexible operating ranges, low-head and peaking applications, and turnkey EPC support will be best placed to win multi-plant framework agreements with vertically integrated utilities. Investment focus should prioritize regional manufacturing, alignment with indigenous and local stakeholder requirements, and performance guarantees linked to multi-decade asset management contracts, reinforcing the technology’s value in the broader renewable energy transition.
In Europe, Renewable Energy Developers are emerging as the most influential buyers of Fish Friendly Turbine technology, as liberalized power markets and strong biodiversity targets incentivize low impact hydro across rivers and regulated canals. Key opportunities include equipping new run-of-river and small hydro projects with fish-compatible designs, as well as replacing legacy turbines at existing barriers that must comply with river restoration and habitat connectivity mandates. The competitive landscape features a wide mix of regional turbine manufacturers, environmental consultancies, and integrators, making certification, traceable ecological performance, and modular, factory-assembled units critical for differentiation. Vendors that bundle Fish Friendly Turbine offerings with advanced monitoring, automated flow control, and tailored permitting support can secure preferred-supplier status with leading developers and financial institutions. Strategic investment should focus on standardized product platforms for diverse European hydrology, partnerships with local engineering firms, and financing structures that reward superior ecological outcomes, ensuring strong positioning as fish-safe hydropower becomes the norm in new and upgraded assets.

Market Dynamics and Supply Chain

01

Driver: Stricter Environmental Regulations And Expansion Of Small Scale Hydropower Projects Worldwide

Stricter environmental regulations and the global expansion of small scale hydropower projects are also jointly driving demand for fish friendly turbines. Regulatory authorities increasingly require hydropower developers to reduce fish mortality and protect river biodiversity, especially in ecologically sensitive regions. This has also pushed operators to adopt turbine designs with low blade speed, optimized spacing, and reduced pressure variation to meet compliance standards. Separately, growth in small and run of river hydropower projects is also accelerating as countries seek decentralized renewable energy solutions. These projects often operate in shallow waterways where conventional turbines are also unsuitable. Fish friendly turbines are also well suited to these sites due to their compact design, lower civil works requirements, and ability to operate efficiently at low heads. Together, regulatory pressure and small hydropower growth are also expanding adoption across both new installations and retrofit projects globally.
Advancements in turbine design are also a major driver for the fish friendly turbine market, particularly innovations focused on blade geometry, rotational speed control, and flow optimization. Manufacturers are also using advanced computational modeling and biological impact studies to develop turbines that significantly improve fish survival rates without sacrificing energy output. Modern designs reduce shear stress, turbulence, and rapid pressure changes that commonly harm aquatic life. These improvements make fish friendly turbines more attractive to utilities and private developers seeking reliable performance alongside environmental responsibility. Enhanced efficiency at variable flow conditions also broadens their applicability across rivers, canals, and aquaculture systems. As technology continues to mature, confidence in fish friendly turbines as a viable long term renewable solution continues to grow.
02

Restraint: High Initial Costs And Complex Installation Requirements Limit Adoption In Hydropower Projects

High initial costs and complex installation requirements remain significant restraints for the fish friendly turbine market. Advanced turbine designs with optimized fish passage features often require customized engineering, increasing capital expenditure compared with conventional turbines. Smaller developers and community hydropower projects may delay or cancel installations due to budget constraints. For example, remote run-of-river sites often lack the infrastructure to support complex civil works, extending project timelines and reducing near-term demand. These cost and complexity barriers suppress revenue growth and slow adoption, particularly in emerging markets where financing remains constrained and simpler turbine alternatives are chosen instead.
03

Opportunity: License-renewal driven turbine retrofits in United States hydropower and Small hydropower plants for rural communities in India

In the United States, a wave of hydropower license renewals is driving strong interest in Fish Friendly Turbine retrofits at existing federal and non-federal dams. Plant owners must mitigate downstream fish mortality while maintaining capacity, creating sizeable opportunities for collaborative projects between OEMs, utilities, and fisheries agencies. Run-of-river projects and medium-head reservoirs are expected to adopt modern Kaplan Turbine based Fish Friendly Turbine units most rapidly, capturing the largest revenue share as operators prioritize proven technologies that streamline environmental compliance and long-term operational reliability for major utility portfolios.
In India, expanding rural electrification programs and agricultural demand are opening a significant niche for decentralized Fish Friendly Turbine solutions in canal-based and irrigation-linked small hydropower plants. State utilities and developers seek low-impact hydropower that avoids new large dams yet satisfies stricter environmental approvals. Advanced Alden Turbine configurations, optimized for high fish survival, are poised for the steepest growth, with global revenues projected to climb from $0.11 billion in 2025 to $0.16 billion by 2030, reflecting an 8.82% CAGR in this segment in underserved rural regions.
04

Challenge: Limited Standardization And Uncertainty In Biological Performance Metrics Hinder Market Growth

Limited industry standardization and uncertainty in biological performance metrics for fish friendly turbines restrict broader market expansion. While many designs claim improved fish survival, lack of universally accepted testing protocols and varied ecosystem conditions make it difficult for developers to compare and validate performance confidently. This uncertainty leads to hesitation among regulators and investors, constraining procurement decisions and delaying project approvals. For instance, differing regional requirements for fish passage performance complicate project planning and increase due diligence costs. These challenges weaken demand predictability and slow investment in turbine manufacturing capacity and technology innovation.

Supply Chain Landscape

1

Raw Components

Siemens AGToshiba Corporation
2

Fish Friendly Turbine

General Electric CompanyVoith GmbH
3

Project Integration

Andritz AGSiemens AG
4

End Users

Utility-scale hydropower plantsMunicipal water infrastructureRun-of-river hydro projects
Fish Friendly Turbine - Supply Chain

Use Cases of Fish Friendly Turbine in Hydropower Generation & Aquaculture Industry

Hydropower Generation : Fish friendly turbines are increasingly used in hydropower generation to balance renewable energy production with environmental protection. In this application, low-head fish friendly turbines such as Kaplan-based designs and Archimedes screw turbines are most commonly deployed. These turbines operate at slower rotational speeds and feature optimized blade geometry, which reduces strike probability and pressure changes for fish passing through. Utilities and small hydro operators prefer these systems for run-of-river and retrofit projects where regulatory compliance and ecological impact are critical. By enabling higher fish survival rates while maintaining stable power output, fish friendly turbines support sustainable hydropower expansion.
Marine Ecosystem Conservation : Marine ecosystem conservation initiatives use fish friendly turbines primarily to minimize ecological disruption in rivers, estuaries, and coastal waterways. Open-center turbines and hydrokinetic fish friendly designs are widely adopted in conservation-focused projects because they allow aquatic species to pass safely with minimal turbulence. Environmental agencies and conservation organizations deploy these turbines in restoration zones to support clean energy generation without compromising biodiversity. Their ability to reduce fish mortality, sediment disturbance, and habitat fragmentation makes them suitable for sensitive ecosystems. As conservation regulations tighten, fish friendly turbines play a growing role in aligning renewable energy development with long-term ecosystem health goals.
Aquaculture Industry : In the aquaculture industry, fish friendly turbines are used to generate localized power while preserving fish health within controlled water systems. Small-scale axial flow and Archimedes screw turbines are most commonly applied in fish farms and hatcheries, where water flow must remain gentle and predictable. These turbines help power aeration, circulation, and monitoring systems without creating harmful shear forces or physical stress on farmed species. Aquaculture operators value fish friendly turbines for their low maintenance needs and compatibility with continuous water flow environments. This application supports energy efficiency while maintaining optimal living conditions for high-value aquatic stock.

Impact of Industry Transitions on the Fish Friendly Turbine Market

As a core segment of the Power Generation industry, the Fish Friendly Turbine market develops in line with broader industry shifts. Over recent years, transitions such as Transition to Sustainable Energy and Technological Innovation have redefined priorities across the Power Generation sector, influencing how the Fish Friendly Turbine market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics. These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.
01

Transition to Sustainable Energy

The accelerating transition to sustainable energy is reshaping the Fish Friendly Turbine market from a niche environmental solution into a strategic investment lever, projected to add $158 million in incremental growth by 2030. As manufacturing and utilities decarbonize, demand is concentrating in hydropower and aquaculture assets where Fish Friendly Turbine technology simultaneously enhances generation efficiency and safeguards aquatic biodiversity. Policy-driven renewable energy transition, stricter environmental compliance, and pressure to modernize aging hydropower infrastructure are pushing operators to replace legacy turbines with fish friendly, low-mortality designs. This shift is repositioning Fish Friendly Turbine systems as critical enablers of sustainable hydropower expansion, reducing ecological risk while unlocking new capacity additions, lifetime asset value, and long-term license security for owners and operators.
02

Technological Innovation

Technological innovation is driving a significant transition in the fish friendly turbine sector as manufacturers introduce advanced blade geometries, low rotational speed designs, and durable composite materials. These improvements reduce turbulence, pressure changes, and physical contact, resulting in lower fish mortality rates. Hydropower operators benefit from turbines that maintain energy efficiency while meeting stricter environmental compliance requirements. The transition also supports industries reliant on hydroelectric power, such as irrigation, municipal utilities, and aquaculture, by enabling sustainable energy generation with minimal ecological disruption. In river restoration and small hydropower projects, innovative fish friendly turbines help secure regulatory approvals and public acceptance. Overall, these technological advancements enhance operational efficiency, extend turbine lifespan, and strengthen the environmental sustainability profile of hydropower dependent industries.