The hydropower and marine energy industries can support the United States’ in achieving its energy goals. Hydropower already plays a significant role in the power system. It provides nearly 27.4% of U.S. renewable electricity generation, 6% of total electricity generation. Pumped storage hydropower currently accounts for 96% of utility-scale energy storage in the United States.
Meanwhile, the marine energy industry is growing. There is an abundant opportunity to harness marine energy from the natural movement of water, including waves, tides, and river and ocean currents. The amount of usable marine energy in the United States is roughly 57% of the country's power generation. Even if we can capture a small portion of what's available, marine energy technologies could make significant contributions to the nation's energy needs.
To spur growth in the hydropower and marine energy industries, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) supports the next generation of water power experts. WPTO provides a variety of educational resources to:
- Share information about hydropower and marine energy
- Increase awareness of water power technologies
- Develop the workforce needed to make the clean energy future a reality.
Check out the resources listed below to learn more and get involved with water power!
Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy, which uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity.
The REDi web app provides a virtual, renewable-energy-powered world home to more than a dozen water power waystations. REDi’s interactive experience allows users to grow food with power from river currents; explore a city that runs on clean, steady hydropower; and see how ocean waves provide energy to purify water, ramp up research, and protect vulnerable ecosystems.
The STEM for Hydropower portal contains educational resources for educators and students of all ages, information about careers in hydropower and workforce development programs, and much more. This information-sharing portal is designed to help interested students learn and to provide resources for academia and industry to educate the future workforce.
The U.S. hydropower industry faces an oncoming wave of retirements, and a new, diverse workforce is critical to the industry’s ability to sustain current operations and grow. Learn about these and other hydropower workforce trends and needs.
With back-to-school season in full swing, WPTO offers a range of educational resources to teach students of all ages about hydropower and highlights programs designed for those about to embark on their clean energy careers.
To pave the way for next-generation workers to start their careers in clean energy WPTO, NREL, and the Hydropower Foundation have created HCC.
Join the Spark Squad on a road trip to learn about hydropower! They'll learn how it works and meet people who work various jobs in hydropower.- The hydropower career map depicts the many different ways one can contribute to the growing hydropower workforce.
Marine energy technologies convert the energy of waves, tides, and river and ocean currents into electricity.- The REDi web app provides a virtual, renewable-energy-powered world home to more than a dozen water power waystations. REDi’s interactive experience allows users to grow food with power from river currents; explore a city that runs on clean, steady hydropower; and see how ocean waves provide energy to purify water, ramp up research, and protect vulnerable ecosystems.
The STEM for Marine Energy portal contains educational resources for educators and students of all ages, information about careers in marine energy and workforce development programs, and much more. This information-sharing portal is designed to help interested students learn and to provide resources for academia and industry to educate the future workforce.
Marine energy is a growing industry, but many people may not be familiar with these technologies and career pathways made possible by harnessing this resource. Learn about WPTO’s educational resources that teach students of all ages about marine energy.
Program is open to full-time graduate students with a marine energy-focused research thesis and/or dissertation at a U.S. institution.
Educational resources to increase awareness and understanding of Marine Energy's environmental effects as well as support the future workforce.
MECC challenges interdisciplinary teams of undergrad and grad students to offer unique solutions to the burgeoning marine energy industry.- The Spark Squad comic book follows middle school students Jasmine, Aria, and Thomas as they learn about marine energy before their power fair.
Check out WPTO's water power image library to view images of hydropower and marine energy technologies.
WPTO's water power video library shows you more about hydropower and marine energy technologies.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office Ripple Effect profile series features just a few of the individuals whose impactful work will help advance hydropower and marine energy technologies.