Upcoming Deadlines
Announcements & Opportunities
DOE Releases $28 Million to Advance and Deploy Hydropower Technology: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued three funding opportunities, totaling more than $28 million, to advance and preserve hydropower as a critical source of clean energy. Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding will support the expansion of low-impact hydropower (such as retrofits for dams that do not produce power), the development of new pumped storage hydropower facilities, and engagement with affected communities on issues like hydropower fleet modernization, sustainability, and environmental impacts. Visit the DOE Water Power Technologies Office’s (WPTO) funding opportunities page for more information on each funding opportunity.
WPTO Opens $4 Million Funding Opportunity to Advance Fish Passage and Protection Technologies: WPTO released a $4 million funding opportunity to reduce the environmental impacts of hydropower with research to enhance innovative fish passage and protection technologies. This funding opportunity seeks to advance the technology-readiness level of innovative fish passage and protection technologies through testing to verify technologies’ biological effects and performance. Improvements in technology to help fish move safely through hydropower facilities reduces environmental impacts and helps to restore fish population levels. Concept papers are due by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 5, 2022.
H2Os Prize Phase Two Winners Announced, Phase Three Opens: WPTO announced six winners of the second phase of the H2Os Prize, which challenged teams to develop solutions to improve hydropower operations and grid resiliency. Team HydroFlex, led by Alex Farley at the University of Utah, was awarded the $7,500 first prize for Phase Two, and five additional teams were awarded $1,500 each for their innovative ideas to expand hydropower’s role in the clean energy transition. Phase Three of the prize is now open and welcomes new and returning competitors. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 11, 2022.
DOE Announces Two Funding Opportunities to Energize Tribal Lands: DOE’s Office of Indian Energy announced $35 million in new funding to promote Tribal energy and economic development. Under two funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) aimed at unlocking the benefits of clean energy for Native communities, the office will award funding to:
Products & Publications
New Report Highlights Hydropower Industry’s Demand for New, Diverse Talent: A new WPTO-funded report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory analyzed hydropower workforce trends and needs. The U.S. hydropower industry faces an oncoming wave of retirements, and the report noted a new, diverse workforce is critical to the industry’s ability to sustain current operations and grow. More hydropower-focused educational and training opportunities are also needed to address recruitment and hiring challenges. Read the report to learn more about its findings.
Video: Natel Energy Protecting River Life with Hydropower: Natel Energy collaborated with Pique Action to create a video on Natel Energy’s DOE-funded hydropower turbine technology, which is making hydropower safer for wildlife and building healthier river ecosystems.
Researchers Examine Drought Impacts on Hydroelectric Power Generation in the Western United States: Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory examined historical hydroelectric generation data to understand the resilience of the western hydropower fleet during extreme drought. This report detailed their findings based on more than two decades of data recorded at more than 600 hydroelectric power plants across 11 states.
Current Water Infrastructure Could Fuel Increased Hydropower Generation: A new report from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) identified opportunities for increased hydropower generation in all 50 states by capitalizing on existing infrastructure. Researchers estimated conduit hydropower, which uses water from structures such as water supply pipelines and irrigation canals, has the potential to add enough electricity to the power grid to power more than 1 million homes.
Lab Report Outlines Needs and Opportunities for Hydropower Testing: Researchers at ORNL released a report detailing the current landscape of hydropower testing in the United States. ORNL research in this report identifies future hydropower testing needs and calls attention to potential opportunities for growth.
Upcoming Events
WPTO Semiannual Stakeholder Webinar
TODAY, Nov. 9, 2022, 1:30–3 p.m. ET, Virtual
Join WPTO staff and leadership for the Semiannual Stakeholder Webinar and learn about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, current and future funding opportunities, results from the office’s 2022 Peer Review, and other accomplishments, news, and updates since the last stakeholder webinar in March 2022. Have questions for the team? The event will conclude with a Q&A session!
To attend, please register for the stakeholder webinar, and submit questions to WaterPowerTechnologiesOffice@ee.doe.gov.
Webinar: Elevate Your Resume: How to Apply for Jobs at the U.S. Department of Energy
Nov. 17, 2022, 1:30–3:30 p.m. ET, Virtual
If your dream job is at DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) but you’re unsure how to apply, we can help! Register for the resume workshop and learn how to:
- Write a resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers.
- Create an account in the USAJobs web portal.
- Apply to positions through USAJobs
In Case You Missed It
DOE's New Grid Deployment Office to Lead Hydroelectric Incentives Program: WPTO has transferred management of the Hydroelectric Incentives Program to DOE’s new Grid Deployment Office. This office is focused on improving and expanding transmission and distribution systems and maintaining and investing in critical generation facilities, such as hydropower, to ensure all communities have access to reliable, affordable electricity. Learn more about this new office and the hydroelectric incentives programs.
Social Spotlight
WPTO on LinkedIn — Oct. 24, 2022
Are you curious about the future of the hydropower workforce? So are we! Read the report to learn about the current workforce and how empowering a new, diverse hydropower workforce will help drive our clean energy future.
|
Follow along on EERE's Twitter, Linkedin, and Facebook channels for more #WaterWednesday content each week.
WPTO/DOE in the News
-
Hydropower From a Ditch? DOE Sees Energy Potential, Emrgy, Tanika Owens, Oct. 24, 2022
-
US DOE Pledges Funding for Hydro, ReNews.Biz, Staff Writer, Oct. 24, 2022
-
Water as a Battery: Pumped Storage Hydropower Gets Rejuvenated, Electrical Contractor Magazine, Jeff Gavin, Oct. 15, 2022
-
Water Pipes Hold Flood of Untapped Electricity Potential, MSN, Brandon Vigliarolo, Oct. 13, 2022
-
PNNL Report Says Hydropower Can Still Perform During Extreme Droughts, American Public Power Association, Peter Maloney, Oct. 8, 2022
Hydro in the Headlines
-
Rye Development Advances Progress at Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage, Energy Global, Jessica Casey, Oct. 25, 2022
-
Small Scale Hydroelectric Power Plants Used to Possibly Solve California's Energy Crisis, CBS News, Staff Writer, Oct. 19, 2022
-
'Water Batteries' Could Power 135,000 Homes in San Diego, Gizmodo, Angely Mercado, Oct. 17, 2022
-
Public Power Utilities in Massachusetts Enter Expanded Hydropower Power Purchase Agreement, American Public Power Association, Paul Ciampoli, Oct. 16, 2022
-
'Water Batteries' Could Store Solar and Wind Power for When It's Needed, National Public Radio, Dan Charles, Oct. 14, 2022
|
