What Happened?
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $7 million in funding for organizations researching and developing new technologies for low-impact hydropower systems. The DOE cites significant opportunity across the country for hydropower growth and investment.
Goal
The U.S. Department of Energy will award $7 million in grants to research and development projects focused on low-impact hydropower systems. The goal of the funding initiative is to advance hydropower drivetrains that transfer energy from turbines to generators, as well as new technologies that minimize the environmental impacts and lifetime costs of new hydropower projects.
The DOE funding for hydropower research and development projects will support a variety of innovations including:
- Rapidly deployable and removable hydropower technologies – such as innovative prefabricated structures, water impoundment structures and water conveyance systems
- New methods and materials for the construction of hydropower facilities
- Advanced hydropower powertrain and generator components – such as advanced composite materials and replaceable turbine blade technologies
The latest funding opportunity is part of the DOE’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative designed to increase U.S. competitiveness in clean energy product manufacturing as well boost overall energy productivity nationwide.
Untapped Potential
Currently, hydropower accounts for 7 percent of the nation’s electricity – making it a leading source of renewable energy in the United States that eliminates over 200 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year. Furthermore, hydropower provides reliable baseload 24 hours a day to help create a flexible and diverse electric grid better able to integrate wind and solar power resources as well.
Recent DOE data suggests there is significant opportunity for more investment in hydropower that could increase the nation’s supply of clean, emissions-free energy.
According to DOE data, the U.S. has 65 gigawatts of additional hydropower potential in undeveloped rivers and streams. There is also more than 12 gigawatts of hydropower potential currently underutilized in non-powered dams. With the development of new advanced hydropower technologies, these opportunities for renewable energy can be harnessed and leveraged to combat the impacts of climate change.
Multi-Agency Effort
The DOE is not the only agency supporting hydropower projects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded $235 million in grants to innovative conservation projects across the country. One project in particular, the Colorado Pressurized Small Hydropower Partnership Project , received $1.8 million from the USDA to facilitate the conversion of flood irrigation systems to more resource-efficient pressurized irrigation systems with integrated hydropower.
As more Western states struggle to deal with prolonged drought conditions, federal funding is fueling new projects to increase efficiency while supporting production. By helping local farmers and growers upgrade their irrigation systems, the grant program will help reduce costs and energy by making small hydropower technologies more accessible.
The goal of the Colorado project is to install 30 integrated hydromechanical or hydroelectric power systems across the state within the next four years. It includes the conversion of flood-irrigated fields to sprinkler irrigation with integrated hydropower that boosts conservation efforts in the region.
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