HYDROPOWER PROGRAM

Innovations for Low-Impact Hydropower Growth

Project Name: Groundbreaking Hydro Prize                      

Project Team: Oak Ridge National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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In April 2021, the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) announced two winners of the Groundbreaking Hydro Prize, which challenged innovators to create new solutions to support hydropower project development by starting at square one—the foundation. The prize, developed by WPTO in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was open to a multidisciplinary field of applicants, from those in hydropower and dam construction and safety to advanced manufacturing and beyond.

Team GZA (GeoEnvironmental Inc. and Littoral Power Systems) won the Groundbreaking Prize for their Terra-Modulor Project concept to prefabricate a modular hydropower foundation for a wide range of soils and substructures. Team Chemventive won the Innovator Prize for their WaterJet Drill Concept, a deep array of high-tension cables drilled through solid rock, using a water-jet drilling robot, to secure a steel dam in tension.

Innovations for Low-Impact Hydropower Growth Projects

Research Explores Connections Between Water and Power Systems To Enhance Their Resiliency
The Integrated Water Power Resilience Project, a collaborative effort between two national laboratories, led to the development of tools and resources that will help researchers create more resilient water power systems.
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Forecasting Technology Provides Reliable Streamflow Predictions To Inform Hydropower Projects
Upstream Tech used machine learning and satellite data to develop more accurate streamflow forecasts that will help hydropower developers and regulators make more informed decisions about future hydropower projects and operations.
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I AM Hydro Prize Winners Use Advanced Manufacturing To Reduce Costs of Hydropower Components
With support from partners, the U.S. Department of Energy’s I AM Hydro Prize awarded $175,000 in cash prizes to 11 teams for their novel concepts to apply new advanced manufacturing techniques for hydropower.
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New Tool Advances Irrigation Modernization With Hydropower
To support irrigation districts in upgrading outdated systems, national laboratory researchers developed a tool that provides system designs for districts to understand the benefits of hydropower to decarbonize agriculture.
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Natel Restoration Hydro Turbines Increase Fish Passage Without Compromising Hydropower Generation
Natel Energy conducted fish passage tests with its Restoration Hydropower Turbine and found a 100% survival rate for adult rainbow trout and American eels.
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New Analysis Estimates Costs of Adding Hydropower Generation Capability to Non-Powered Dams
Researchers at ORNL released updated cost estimates for non-powered dam projects in the United States to help save stakeholders time, effort, and money when assessing potential projects.
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