Belgian micro-hydropower rollout accelerates: EnergyVision brings Turbulent founder back on board
GHENT – EnergyVision announces that it aims to accelerate the rollout of micro-hydropower in Belgium through Turbulent, the specialist in micro-hydropower turbines that the company recently acquired. EnergyVision had been working on plans to deploy this technology for some time, but due to the current turbulence in energy markets, the need for predictable, locally anchored electricity that is less sensitive to price shocks is greater than ever. These plans are therefore being implemented more quickly and concretely. To reinforce this ambition, Turbulent founder Geert Slachmuylders is structurally rejoining the company and will join Turbulent’s board of directors.
Micro-hydropower is a logical complement to solar and wind: where sun and wind fluctuate, flowing water at suitable locations can provide stable, local green electricity day and night. Thanks to its vortex technology, developed in Flanders and patented in multiple countries by Turbulent, this long “overlooked” energy source is once again becoming a viable solution: compact, robust and reliable, designed to generate energy even at low head heights and smaller flow rates.
The Belgian rollout is therefore a clear priority within EnergyVision’s Turbulent activities. The plan is to build a strong pipeline of Belgian sites, select suitable locations together with local partners and water managers, accelerate technical studies and engineering, and initiate the first projects. The goal: to deliver projects that demonstrate what micro-hydropower can mean for Belgium, as predictable, locally anchored production and as a stable complement to the energy mix.
Maarten Michielssens, CEO of EnergyVision, sees micro-hydropower as the next step in a story that began years ago and is more relevant than ever today: “Twelve years ago, I sat on an entrepreneurship jury, listening in awe to Geert Slachmuylders’ idea for a small-scale hydropower plant. At the time, it was still a dream, but two years later, it became Turbulent. Today, we are ready to roll out Turbulent’s technology across Belgium as a stable addition to our energy mix. At a time when there is ongoing debate about extending nuclear power plants and geopolitical tensions, such as those in Iran, are driving up energy prices, this technology can provide additional baseload capacity, help reduce energy bills, and strengthen our country’s energy security. Hopefully, this will also be supported by an appropriate policy framework across the different regions of Belgium.”
For Turbulent, Slachmuylders’ return is above all a way to execute faster and more decisively. Pieter Joseph, CEO of Turbulent, puts it as follows: “Geert is the founder and inventor behind the patented Turbulent technology. His return to the company in a structural role shows that we truly mean business, including in Belgium. We are delighted to welcome him back.”
Slachmuylders himself sums it up clearly and ambitiously: “Our mission is simple: to make clean, affordable electricity accessible through technology that can be deployed locally. By deploying in Belgium, we demonstrate that micro-hydropower is also a realistic, river-friendly energy source here.”
Change in the Executive Committee
EnergyVision announces a change in the executive committee. Deputy CFO Jonas Vermeulen will become the new CFO as planned. Current CFO Michèle Adams will remain operationally available for some time, but is stepping down as CFO and director for personal reasons.
