New funding opportunity aims to strengthen hydropower's ability to support an electric grid with an increasing amount of variable renewable energy resources.
Water Power Technologies Office
November 16, 2023
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The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) today released a $9.5 million funding opportunity to increase hydropower’s flexibility, allowing it to better balance the variability of resources such as wind and solar on the power system.
Hydropower currently accounts for 28.7% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and about 6.2% of total U.S. electricity generation. It can supply electricity immediately or store it to meet real-time demand. By enhancing these abilities, this investment helps strengthen hydropower’s ability to support an electric grid with an increasing amount of variable renewable energy resources as the United States works to meet its clean energy goals.
The opportunity will fund projects in three topic areas:
- Up to $4 million for projects that demonstrate hydropower hybrid configurations, such as a hydropower facility paired with another type of generation or with an energy storage resource.
- Up to $4 million for projects that advance technology innovations to improve the flexible capabilities of the U.S. hydropower fleet.
- Up to $1.5 million for projects that quantify the flexible capabilities of hydropower and advance operational strategies to increase such flexibility to better serve an evolving electric grid.
Between four and seven awards are anticipated under the Strategies to Increase Hydropower Flexibility funding opportunity. Individual awards may vary between $750,000 and $4 million.
Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 18, 2024, to be eligible to submit a full application.
Webinar
WPTO will host an informational webinar at 2:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 30, 2023, to discuss the funding opportunity and areas of focus. Register for the webinar.
Learn more about this and other water power funding opportunities.
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