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Follow along on the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook channels for more #WaterWednesday content each week.
Upcoming Deadlines
Announcements & Opportunities
WPTO Accepting Applications for Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program: The Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is now accepting applications for the latest round of funding under the Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program under Section 242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. A total of $7 million is available for qualified facilities, and WPTO has expanded eligibility criteria to enable additional hydroelectric facilities to potentially receive incentives, such as those located in communities with inadequate electric services. Applications for funding are due Feb. 10, 2022.
Apply Now for Second Round of ETIPP Technical Assistance: ETIPP is accepting applications for its second year of technical assistance to support remote, island, and islanded communities. This program seeks to increase energy resilience through strategic energy planning and the implementation of solutions. Applications for technical assistance are due April 15, 2022. Register in advance to attend the ETIPP Webinar on Feb. 16 at 12 p.m. MST to learn more about the application process.
Call for Symposia Submissions: Fish Passage 2022: Symposia submissions are now open for the Fish Passage 2022 Conference, hosted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The deadline to submit symposia topic proposals is Jan. 14, 2022.
Submit Applications To Build EPSCoR-Laboratory Partnerships: DOE’s Office of Science released a Funding Opportunity Announcement geared towards building partnerships between its Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program and national laboratories. These partnerships aim to advance understanding of the physical world by supporting fundamental, early-stage energy research collaborations with the DOE National Laboratories. Pre-applications are due Jan. 13, 2022.
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Products & Publications
Webinar and Report Explore Hydropower Regulatory Process: In a November 2021 webinar, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory presented key takeaways from the Hydropower Licensing Report. Their findings describe which factors in the regulatory process affect licensing timelines and could help decision makers streamline the process while maintaining critical protections. To learn the report’s key takeaways, watch the webinar recording.
Upcoming Event
R&D Deep Dive Webinar: The Environmental Decision Support Toolkit and Relicensing
Jan. 26, 2022, 3–4 p.m. ET
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing process for a hydropower facility, whether a new project or the relicensing of an existing facility, can take five to seven years and put a large financial burden on the applicant. Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers developed the Environmental Decision Support Toolkit to help hydropower facility operators, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission representatives, and other stakeholders identify the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project and improve the efficiency of the licensing process. Join the team behind the toolkit for a walk through their online, interactive, and science-based questionnaire.
Register for the webinar.
In Case You Missed It
Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects See New Potential With Valuation Tool: To help developers accurately calculate the potential of a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) project, WPTO launched the PSH Valuation Tool. Developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, the online tool works with the PSH Valuation Guidebook and walks users through the step-by-step process of project valuation. Look out for more major WPTO accomplishments in the “2020–2021 Annual Accomplishments Report” coming soon.
WPTO/DOE in the News
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'Ocean Battery' Targets Renewable Energy Dilemma, Yahoo Finance via AFP, Joshua Melvin, Jan. 6, 2022
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Former Coal Mine Will House New Pumped-Hydro Storage Project, POWER Magazine, Darrell Proctor, Jan. 5, 2022
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Ocean Energy Needs a Lift to Go Mainstream, The Wall Street Journal, Rochelle Toplensky, Jan. 3, 2022
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Department of Energy Issues Report on Hydropower Permitting, Lexology, Troutman Pepper, Dec. 21, 2021
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Key to Reliable Renewables, Water Power Magazine, Suzanne Pritchard, Dec. 10, 2021
Hydro in the Headlines
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$1 Billion Pumped Storage Project Launches in the U.S., Power Engineering International, Nicholas Nhede, Jan. 6, 2022
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Once Depleted, Lake Oroville Restarts Hydroelectric Power Plant, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Rob Nikolewski, Jan. 6, 2022
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China Helps Fulfill Argentina's Energy Dream with World's Southernmost Hydroelectric Dams, Ukrainian News, Timofey Borzenko, Jan. 4, 2022
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China's Mega Hydropower Station Generates 38.9 Billion kWh of Electricity in 2021, Xinhuanet.com, Staff, Jan. 1, 2022
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Maintenance of Hydropower Stations Adds 5,000 MW to Power Output, Financial Tribune, Staff, Jan. 1, 2022
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Federal Legislation May Make Local Hydro Projects Easier to Pull Off, The Star, Jacob Wagner, Dec. 29, 2021
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Utility Pushes U.K.'s First Big Pumped Storage Hydro Project in 30 Years, Engineering News-Record, Peter Reina, Dec. 29, 2021
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Pumped Storage Hydropower – A Key to Reliable Renewables, NS Energy, Suzanne Pritchard, Dec. 22, 2021
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FERC Finalizes Hydropower Safety Regulations, International Water Power & Dam Construction, Staff, Dec. 20, 2021
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Nuclear and Hydropower Plants Provide Most Zero-Emission Electricity in the U.S., The Washington Times, Rita Baranwal, Dec. 20, 2021
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