Management Team

Dedicated to providing cost effective, clean, renewable electricity and fresh water to the people of the world.

Our VIVACE technology uses the extensively studied phenomenon of vortex induced vibrations to extract useful energy from ocean, river, tidal and other water currents.

Founded in 2004, Vortex Hydro Energy LLC (VHE) is a Michigan based company dedicated to providing cost effective, clean, renewable electricity and fresh water to the people of the world. Our technology, nicknamed VIVACE, uses the extensively studied phenomenon of vortex induced vibrations to extract useful energy from ocean, river, tidal and other water currents. VIVACE installations are non-obtrusive, environmentally friendly, and have an extremely high energy density compared to other renewable technologies.

Vortex Hydro Energy is a privately held company. Several years are anticipated before VHE becomes traded in any stock exchange.

Dr. Michael M. Bernitsas – Interim CEO / Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Michael M. Bernitsas is the inventor of VIVACE. Dr. Bernitsas is a renowned expert in the study of underwater structures, and a tenured faculty member in the University of Michigan’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NA&ME) Department. He served nine years as Department Chair and presently directs a $3 million Office of Naval Research (ONR) funded research and education partnership. Dr. Bernitsas was awarded the prestigious Blakely-Smith medal for outstanding accomplishments in Ocean Engineering. He holds an SM in NA&ME and SM and PhD in Ocean Engineering, all from MIT.