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PEI-based company reviving historical hydro sites to meet climate targets

Aslan Renewables Founder and CEO Andrew Murray (CNW Group/Aslan Renewables)

CHARLOTTETOWN — Aslan Renewables, a PEI-based company founded by tech entrepreneur Andrew Murray, is revolutionizing renewable energy with its scalable modular dams designed to bring Canada’s 50,000 historical hydro sites back to life with modern technology.

As governments ramp up efforts to decarbonize the electricity grid and provide residents access to clean, reliable and affordable power, Aslan Renewables’ made-in-Canada hydroelectric solutions offer communities the ability to harness energy from rivers and tidal waterways, renewing the value of existing energy infrastructure as sources of infinite green energy.

“The future of energy is fundamentally local,” said Andrew Murray, Founder and CEO of Aslan Renewables. “Aslan provides an accessible and affordable solution to renewable energy demand in rural and remote communities across North America. Our modular dams are designed to truly empower the communities they serve by replacing fossil-fuel generated electricity with renewables that provide essential grid services.”

Developed over the past three years in partnership with the University of PEI, Mi’kmaq and Abegweit First Nations, and private landowners, Aslan dams are tailored to Canadian climates, flow dynamics, and fish populations. The company worked with hydro suppliers to custom design and develop their modular solutions and have conducted extensive environmental consultations.

In March 2024, Aslan will launch a pilot project as part of a power purchase agreement with the Government of Prince Edward Island involving three dam sites, which will supply upwards of 350,000 kilowatt hours of hydroelectricity to the province’s grid each year. A subsequent phase is planned to include industrial and tidal sources of hydro, allowing the province to source more than 10 percent of its power from local and sustainable hydro sources by 2035, which will directly contribute to meeting Prince Edward Island’s net-zero energy targets.