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Welcome to Hydro Headlines, a bimonthly snapshot of hydropower news and happenings. This Hydro Headlines newsletter takes approximately six minutes to read.
Reach out to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) at WaterPowerTechnologiesOffice@ee.doe.gov with any inquiries or suggestions.
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Did You Know?
The Hydropower Market Report provides a comprehensive picture of developments in the U.S. hydropower and pumped storage hydropower fleet and industry trends. Updated regularly, the report discusses differences in trends by region, plant size, owner type, and other attributes.
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Upcoming Deadlines
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Nov. 26, 2024, is the deadline to submit applications for the Utility and Grid Operator Technical Assistance program.
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Dec. 12, 2024, is the deadline to submit concept papers to the Fiscal Year 2025 Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) Base Core Laboratory Infrastructure for Market Readiness (CLIMR) Lab Call.
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Dec. 13, 2024, is the deadline for nonprofit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) organizations to apply to the Clean Energy Careers for All program.
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Jan. 13, 2025, is the deadline to submit applications for the faculty track of the Office of Technology Transitions' EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP).
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Jan. 29, 2025, is the deadline to submit applications for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
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Feb. 3, 2025, is the deadline for submissions to the Explore Phase in the student track of EnergyTech UP.
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Feb. 27, 2025, is the deadline to submit concept papers to the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas–FY 2025 Release funding opportunity from DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED).
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Rolling: Concept abstracts are being reviewed on a rolling basis for this technical collaboration opportunity focused on developing innovative hydropower technologies using advanced materials and manufacturing
Looking for more detailed information on the latest funding opportunities and events related to water power? Subscribe to The Water Wire! Find the next issue in your inbox on Dec. 11, 2024.
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WPTO recently announced nearly $15 million for nine research and development projects to increase hydropower's ability to respond to changing demand on the electric grid. This ability to operate flexibly allows hydropower facilities to help balance electric grids with an increasing amount of variable renewable resources such as wind energy and solar power, ensuring communities have power when they need it.
WPTO announced the selection of projects to receive more than $33 million in total to advance hydropower and marine energy. These selections include more than $8.6 million for 13 hydropower technical assistance projects through the HydroWIRES Initiative and nearly $25 million for 25 hydropower and marine energy research and development projects at six DOE national laboratories.
The latest round of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs feature nine water power topics. The funding opportunity is expected to be released on Dec. 16, 2024, and letters of intent are expected to be due by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 7, 2025. Learn more about these and other key dates on the Office of Science's website.
OCED opened an opportunity for up to $400 million to spur innovative, community-focused, clean energy solutions for rural and remote communities across the United States. This funding will help rural and remote communities demonstrate replicable projects, ultimately encouraging widespread adoption and helping to lower energy costs, support local economic development, and enhance energy resiliency. Concept papers are due Feb. 27, 2025.
DOE's Grid Deployment Office announced that 39 hydropower facilities will receive more than $12 million in incentive payments for electricity generated and sold in calendar year 2023. This funding will help ensure that hydroelectric generators continue to provide clean, affordable electricity.
WPTO announced funding for 25 small-business-led hydropower and marine energy projects through Phase I and Phase II of the SBIR and STTR programs. These projects can help to accelerate the growth of water power innovation and technology.
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Project Updates and Stories |
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Growing up in a working-class family in Florida, Matthew Grosso was inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s legacy and decided to pursue public service. Grosso, who recently became WPTO director, is excited to lead the office as it works to advance hydropower and marine energy technologies.
In celebration of National STEM Day on Nov. 8, 2024, WPTO recognized the innovative and impactful work of six national laboratories that have used funding from WPTO to develop community-centered programs focused on STEM outreach for learners of all ages. From hands-on activities and interactive games, to exchanging oral traditions and formal mentoring, these laboratories worked with schools, museums, and Tribal nations to lower structural hurdles and find meaningful ways to engage their local communities in STEM pathways and water power careers.
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Kristine Moody grew up snorkeling, sailing, and swimming in Floridian waters and developed an intense curiosity about aquatic creatures. Today, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, she tracks fish species using something called environmental DNA and RNA. Hydropower operators can use this method to monitor local ecosystems.
The Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) simulates power grids of any size, helping identify optimal clean energy and storage solutions for specific locations. New updates now allow users to incorporate hydropower and marine energy into these simulations. This feature is particularly valuable for remote coastal towns, enabling more informed decisions about adopting clean energy.
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NREL's new video demonstrates how the Hydropower Emulation Platform helps developers de-risk hydropower projects. Using NREL's ARIES platform, this tool creates a realistic, lab-based environment to test hydropower using real-world operational data. The platform allows developers to safely and cost-effectively validate designs, helping to save time and reduce risks in future hydropower projects.
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Dec. 4, 2024, 1–2 p.m. ET
Join WPTO to learn more about the water power-focused topics in the latest round of the SBIR and STTR programs. Questions may be submitted prior to the webinar to WaterPowerTechnologiesOffice@ee.doe.gov.
Dec. 5, 2024, 2–3 p.m. ET
Join researchers from Idaho National Laboratory to learn about the technical resource potential at federally controlled reservoirs and the associated regulatory pathways for obtaining floating photovoltaic project approval.
Dec. 10, 2024, 1–2 p.m. ET
This track-details-focused webinar will cover important information for the 2025 round of EnergyTech UP. Students and faculty alike will learn about key prize details, important dates, submission materials, and more. The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A.
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This latest installment of the "On the Road With WPTO" series shares how WPTO staff participated in conferences, spoke on panels, and shared their water power expertise to engage with stakeholders across the clean energy industry.
Charles Scaife, a technology manager in WPTO, shares how his well-traveled childhood led to him working to understand the impacts of climate change on water and energy. Scaife discusses why he may not be where he is today without mentors and why he sees hydropower as "a necessity."
October was National Energy Awareness Month—a time to recognize the critical role that energy plays in the country's economic and environmental well-being. And water power is a key player in that clean energy landscape! From inland waterways to coastal shores, and the deep seas beyond, the energy generated from the movement of water will play an essential role in creating a sustainable, reliable grid and even powering activities out at sea.
Follow along on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook channels for more water power content each week.
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Making a Splash in the News |
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Hydropower Digital Twins Solution Helps with Operator Challenges
—EurekAlert via Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, JoAnna Wendel, Nov. 11, 2024
Hydropower Redeveloper Gets $4.9M DOE Grant to Improve Efficiency
—Hydro Review, Sean Wolfe, Nov. 7, 2024
From Legacy to Resilience: Cybersecurity Tools Safeguard Hydropower Facilities
—International Water Power and Dam Construction, Carrieann Stocks, Nov. 6, 2024
Seabed 'Hydro Spheres' to Store Offshore Wind Power Backed by US and Germany
—ReCharge, Cosmo Sanderson, Nov. 4, 2024
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