HydroXS system has been installed at a storage facility near Mount Vernon High School in Washington

InPipe Energy is advancing the use of energy recovery from water pipelines with two new HydroXS installations: a community-scale project in Washington State and the company’s first international export to Thailand.

The HydroXS system captures energy from pressurized water in pipelines and converts it into carbon-free electricity. Unlike traditional hydropower, the system does not require dams or new construction, making it suitable for municipal, industrial, and community-scale use.

In the US, Skagit Public Utility District (Skagit PUD) and InPipe Energy launched a HydroXS installation at a storage facility near Mount Vernon High School in Washington. The system provides up to 300,000kWh annually, powering electric vehicle charging stations and offsetting school energy use. Over its 30-year lifespan, the installation is expected to prevent more than 9.3 million pounds of CO₂ emissions.

“I’m incredibly proud of this project because it shows how shared water infrastructure can do more than deliver water; it can also generate power where it’s needed most,” said Gregg Semler, CEO and founder of InPipe Energy. “From ensuring safe and reliable water delivery to powering EVs and even data centers, this deployment offers a practical and sustainable path forward for cities everywhere.”

George Sidhu, general manager of Skagit PUD, added: “The installation demonstrates how public utilities can deliver long-term efficiency gains and energy security using existing infrastructure. Through energy recovery projects like this one with InPipe Energy, we’re protecting our ratepayers from rising electricity costs while ensuring we have an efficient, secure, and affordable water supply for our community.”

Funding came from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Rural Clean Energy Grant and TransAlta’s Centralia Coal Transition Grant.

Internationally, InPipe announced its first HydroXS export to Thailand, where it will be installed at an industrial water company site in Rayong in partnership with Aquaris Initiative and Grundfos. This marks the first deployment of the technology in Asia.

“Think of it like an oil well, but instead of drilling into oil pipelines, the HydroXS taps into water pipelines and generates renewable energy, decarbonizing water systems,” Semler said. “This is a predictable, consistent, low-cost and dispatchable source of energy that’s ideal for urban, off-grid environments or places where the sun and wind are intermittent. It can also connect to storage for longer term disruptions.”

The Thailand system will generate about 876,000 kWh per year, avoiding an estimated 353 metric tons of CO₂ annually. All energy will be consumed on-site.

“This is more than just a project – it’s proof that US-designed and built energy tech can compete globally,” added Semler. “We’re turning water into renewable electricity – and now exporting that innovation to help power industrial growth abroad.”