The US Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated nearly $15 million to nine projects aimed at enhancing hydropower’s role in supporting the nation’s electricity grid. The funding focuses on research and development initiatives to improve hydropower’s flexibility, enabling it to better integrate with renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
“Hydropower is our oldest form of renewable energy and plays a crucial role in providing stable, reliable electricity to homes and businesses across the country,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “This investment will enhance hydropower’s capabilities to reliably integrate more renewable energy technologies into the power system.”
Hydropower contributes approximately 27% of U.S. utility-scale renewable energy generation and 6% of overall electricity generation. Its ability to quickly adjust output helps stabilize grids and address fluctuations in demand.
Selected projects
Hydropower and Energy Storage Demonstrations
- Hydrogen Integration in Manitou Springs, CO
DRG Technical Solutions will pair hydrogen production with a hydropower facility, enabling stored hydrogen to provide electricity during peak demand and fuel electric and hydrogen vehicles. (Award: $3 million) - Battery System at Forks of Butte, CA
Synergics Energy Services will install a battery energy storage system at the Forks of Butte hydropower facility to boost revenue and mitigate risks from drought. (Award: $2.5 million) - Trihybrid System in Richfield, NC
Cube Yadkin Generation will add battery storage to a facility already equipped with solar panels, creating a “trihybrid” system to improve reliability and performance. (Award: $2 million)
Improving Hydropower Flexibility
- Polymer Turbine Add-Ons
GE Vernova will develop polymer-based enhancements for Francis turbines to increase their operational range. (Award: $2.4 million) - Grid-Wide Flexibility Analysis
Avista Utilities will evaluate hydropower flexibility across facilities in the Columbia River system. (Award: $1.5 million)
Optimizing Operations with Advanced Tools
- HydroFlex Tool Development
The University of California, Irvine, will create an open-source tool to integrate hydropower with renewable resources. (Award: $1 million) - System-Wide Flexibility Modeling
RTI International will develop models to assess flexibility at multiple hydropower facilities and train operators for evolving demands. (Award: $960,000) - AI for Optimization
North Carolina State University will use artificial intelligence to enhance hydropower operations and grid resilience. (Award: $750,000) - Market-Focused Modeling
Missouri University of Science and Technology will use AI to predict market and weather conditions for optimized hydropower operations. (Award: $750,000)
These projects are part of the DOE’s broader efforts to improve hydropower’s capabilities through the Water Power Technologies Office. Additional details on funding opportunities are available on the DOE website.
