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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
DOE Seeks Input to Inform Hydroelectric Incentive Programs: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released an RFI requesting input to inform the development of nearly $630 million in hydroelectric incentive investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The RFI solicits feedback on program structure, timing and distribution of funds, definitions of capital improvements, and selection criteria for the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives Program (Section 243) and Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives Program (Section 247). Responses are due Sept. 6, 2022, by 11:59 p.m. ET.
Hydropower Prize Phase One Winner Announced, Phase Two Opens: The DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) announced the eight winners of Phase One of the H2Os Prize. These teams are developing cutting-edge solutions for innovative hydropower operational schemes with the potential to advance this resource’s contributions to decarbonizing the U.S. power grid by 2035. The second phase of the H2Os Prize is now open and welcomes new and returning competitors. The deadline for Phase Two submissions is Aug. 18, 2022. Join the team members who created the H2Os Prize in a webinar on Aug. 2, 2022, to hear their reflections on Phase One and learn what to look forward to in Phase Two, including how to get involved!
DOE Seeks Input on Program for Clean Energy Projects on Current and Former Mine Land: On June 29, 2022, DOE issued an RFI to inform a $500 million program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to demonstrate clean energy projects on current or former mine lands across America. The program will support projects that demonstrate one or more clean energy technologies, including potentially energy storage such as pumped storage hydropower, on mining sites. The deadline to submit responses is Aug. 15, 2022, by 5 p.m. ET.
Last Chance to Submit Responses to RFI on Climate Change Impacts on Hydropower: WPTO extended the deadline for its RFI, seeking comments from the nonfederal hydropower community on climate change data and research needs to inform long-term hydropower operations and resource planning. Information collected may help WPTO design future funding opportunities, research and development initiatives, tools, and data sets that address the risk of long-term climate change on hydropower generation and reduce a utility’s burden in conducting its own full-scale climate risk assessment. The deadline to submit responses is Aug. 8, 2022, by 5 p.m. ET.
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Products & Publications
WPTO Article Examines Two New Studies on Opportunities to Expand Pumped Storage Hydropower: Argonne National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently published studies exploring promising new pumped storage hydropower technologies and their potential in specific regions across the United States, respectively. This article explores both reports and their major findings.
Upcoming Events
See WPTO at HYDROVISION International: Members of the WPTO team are at the HYDROVISION International conference right now! If you’re at the event, don’t forget to stop by and see the team at booth #1310. Staff from WPTO and the national labs are also speaking during sessions and side events throughout the week. See the conference schedule for more information.
WPTO Hydropower Program Peer Review
July 25–29, 2022, Online
The Peer Review process provides stakeholders an opportunity to voice their feedback and provide recommendations on WPTO initiatives, including those in the Hydropower Program. The Peer Review sessions are organized by activity area and will span four days of virtual presentations from hydropower project leads. Register for the sessions you’d like to attend.
 WPTO R&D Deep Dive: The H2Os Prize
Aug. 2, 2022, 1-2 p.m. ET, Online
WPTO launched the H2Os Prize to encourage the development of new solutions that can advance hydropower’s contribution to the grid. The prize challenges innovators to employ modeling, data analytics, and machine learning to create new ways for hydropower systems to coordinate with existing grid scheduling practices and meet water management needs. Join the team members who created the H2Os Prize to hear their reflections on Phase One and learn about what to look forward to in Phase Two, including how to get involved!
Hydropower Incentive Programs Webinar
Aug. 9, 2022, 1:30 p.m. ET, Online
DOE is seeking responses related to the development of hydroelectric incentive programs authorized under sections 243 and 247 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended by sections 40332 and 40333 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. DOE welcomes written and verbal input from the public on the subjects identified in this RFI to support the development of future hydroelectric incentive programs.
In Case You Missed It
WPTO Announces 2023 Hydropower Collegiate Competition Teams: In its first year, the Hydropower Collegiate Competition provides a platform for students to develop unique solutions to complex challenges related to hydropower’s ability to enable a 100% clean energy grid. The 2023 competition comprises 11 teams of students representing various regions of the United States.
WPTO/DOE in the News
Hydro in the Headlines
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The Mountain That Helps Power Britain, BBC Travel, Mike MacEacheran, July 1, 2022
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Revolutionary New Swiss 'Water Battery' Will be One of Europe's Main Renewable Sources of Energy, EuroNews.Green, Rebecca Ann Hughes, June 30, 2022
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Canada’s Top Corporate Citizen of 2022 Wants to Become North America’s Battery, Corporate Knights, Shawn McCarthy, June 29, 2022
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Comments Sought on ‘One of Best Pumped Storage Sites’ in Washington, KUOW, Northwest News Network, June 29, 2022
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