In January 2026, Cadens LLC received a fast-tracked Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This award of $480,000 marks the company’s second CRADA with the national lab, building on a successful partnership that has produced award-winning innovations in hydropower.
Randall Mueller, co-founder of Cadens LLC, first learned about the opportunity in 2024 at Clean Currents, the National Hydropower Association’s industry conference. Cadens’ ability to secure a second CRADA was rooted in a strong track record of performance and innovation. The current CRADA was fast-tracked by the DOE’s Water Power Technical Collaboration Project, with the application and approval process taking about four months.
“Generally, it’s a long process involving multiple layers of approval,” said Mueller. “The DOE national labs’ various departments review the proposal, and their internal review expands to agency- and office-level reviews. It took almost a year for our first CRADA with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to go through the approval process in 2018.”
Cadens’ previous successful CRADA and existing partnership with the national lab enabled a more rapid timeline for the current agreement. The company can now move more quickly to launch work on its joint project, Simulation-driven Design and Manufacturing for Micro-hydropower, significantly shortening the time between concept and execution.
“They had a comfort level working with us again,” Mueller said. “That first partnership built the world’s first additively manufactured low-head microhydro testbed, and it has been fully operational for over six years without failure of the large 3D-printed components.”
Mueller also attributes the recent fast-tracked success to Cadens’ investment in its own infrastructure, including establishing a low-head microhydro lab at the Rome mill in Sullivan, Wisconsin. Having an existing facility to test nontraditional ideas and solutions for research and development has been a significant factor not only in securing a CRADA, but also in obtaining other funding. Cadens’ innovations stand out in an industry traditionally dominated by large-scale steel-and-concrete systems.
“The hydropower industry is very conservative,” Mueller said. “Cadens aims to solve technical, regulatory and affordability challenges in small-scale systems. We’re open to trying new manufacturing methods and materials that are nontraditional to the industry, and our objectives are a little different—we’re focused on distributed energy and hybrid microgrids that combine microhydro with other renewables, such as small wind or solar PV and that operate with or without the grid.”
While details of the latest CRADA are still emerging, the agreement—like the company’s first contract—enables collaborations that unlock opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.
“The first CRADA enabled a lot of progress that we wouldn’t have otherwise achieved,” Mueller said.
That progress includes national recognition, such as winning the IAM Hydro grand prize in the DOE’s American-Made Challenges program, and advancements in technology, including a patent filing for debris mitigation in microhydropower systems.
By embracing advanced manufacturing techniques—particularly large-format additive manufacturing—the company is redefining how microhydropower systems can be designed, produced and deployed. Its focus on distributed energy and resilient microgrids positions Cadens at the forefront of a more flexible and accessible energy future.
Mueller said the national lab often points to Cadens as an example of successful collaboration between small businesses or startups and national lab staff. He emphasized that securing a CRADA requires more than strong technology—it also depends on relationships, preparation and persistence.
“Assemble a team, even if it’s small,” Mueller said. “Go to trade shows and meet people in the industry connected to or adjacent to your work. Connect with lab staff in your area of focus. You need to reach out, and when you get connected, be prepared. Talented people are always busy, so don’t worry if you don’t hear back right away. A fundamental question to ask yourself is whether you really need to partner with a national lab to achieve your desired outcome.”
He also emphasized the importance of responsiveness once a project begins, noting that promptly addressing a partner’s requests helps maintain momentum. By ensuring his small business has the necessary information readily available, he supports clear communication and reliability. Recognizing that national lab staff manage multiple projects simultaneously, Mueller makes an effort to maximize productivity when they are able to focus on his project.
Throughout Cadens’ journey, local and regional support has played a vital role.
“We’re very fortunate and proud to do what we do in Wisconsin,” Mueller said, pointing to resources such as the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization and state matching grant programs as critical to sustaining the company’s innovation pipeline.
With its 2026 CRADA now underway, Cadens is poised to further advance simulation-driven design and manufacturing for microhydropower, bringing scalable, cost-effective clean energy solutions closer to reality.
“We’re very excited,” Mueller said. “Stay tuned.”
To apply for an SBIR matching grant like Cadens, visit the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization website to learn more.