Energyminer Raises 2.1 Million Euros to Commercialize Its River Power Plants

The Munich-based ClimateTech startup Energyminer has successfully completed a funding round of 2.1 million euros. Investors include, among others, the business angel network Companisto. The company plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate the market launch of its innovative technology for generating electricity from river currents.

At the heart of the project is the Energyfish, a floating current-powered plant that harnesses the natural flow velocity of rivers to generate emission-free electricity around the clock—without any dams or major interventions in the waterway.

Electricity from River Currents Instead of Dams

While traditional hydroelectric power plants often require extensive alterations to river landscapes, Energyminer is taking a different approach. The Energyfish is anchored directly in the river and uses only the natural current to generate energy.

The system operates almost entirely underwater, is silent, and was specifically designed to minimize disruption to the river’s natural ecology. A specially developed fish protection system is designed to prevent fish from being injured or restricted in their migration.

Another advantage: During floods or ice drifts, the Energyfish can automatically sink to the riverbed and continue to generate electricity there. At the same time, the system is continuously monitored digitally.

Base-load renewable energy

According to the company, unlike wind or solar power plants, this technology continuously supplies energy, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. The electricity generated is fed directly into the local low-voltage grid and could, in the future, supply communities or industrial facilities with regionally generated energy.

Founder Team Combines Hydraulic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering

Behind Energyminer is an interdisciplinary founding team with many years of research experience. The company is led by the two co-CEOs, Dr. Richard Eckl and Dr. Georg Walder. The management team is rounded out by Dr. Chantel Niebuhr as CTO, who specializes in kinetic hydropower, Natalie Rojko as CMO, and Rainer Schwarz as CFO.

Capital for the Next Phase of Growth

The 2.1 million euros will now be used to advance the commercial implementation of the technology. The goal is to transition the Energyfish from the development phase to broader market deployment and to create another building block for a decentralized energy supply capable of meeting base load demand.