The Water Power Technologies Office released its 2022–2023 Accomplishments Report, which showcases more than 40 hydropower and marine energy successes from projects at national laboratories, companies, and academic institutions across the country.
Water Power Technologies Office
March 15, 2024
minute read time
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) today released its 2022–2023 Accomplishments Report, which showcases more than 40 hydropower and marine energy successes from WPTO-funded projects at DOE national laboratories, companies, and academic institutions across the country.
“Our accomplishments report offers a glimpse into some of the incredible projects underway to advance hydropower and marine energy technologies,” said WPTO Director Jennifer Garson. “I appreciate the efforts from everyone who contributed not only to these projects but also to the many efforts that are not included in the report. Together, we’re working to realize the full potential of water power to help achieve our country’s clean energy goals.”
Hydropower and marine energy depend on the movement and flow of water and are generally predictable and reliable. This makes them well-suited to help balance an electricity grid with higher levels of variable renewable energy like wind and solar. These resources are also important in achieving a clean electricity sector by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.
As part of WPTO’s Hydropower Program, researchers:
- Examined how advanced manufacturing and materials could benefit the hydropower sector by lowering operation costs and increasing the efficiency of the existing fleet and future facilities.
- Developed a new map and web tool to help hydropower stakeholders understand how the Inflation Reduction Act’s investment tax credits can be used to develop pumped storage hydropower projects across the United States.
- Worked with hydropower stakeholders to adapt an open-source software solution to support cybersecurity at hydropower facilities.
- Supported the 25th annual Salmon Summit, an educational event in eastern Washington designed, in part, to inspire the next generation of hydropower researchers; other diverse science, technology, engineering, and math professionals; and a science-aware community.
- Evaluated challenges and opportunities facing the hydropower industry and how it could attract a new, more diverse workforce.
Through WPTO’s Marine Energy Program, researchers:
- Deployed a first-of-its-kind electrochemical marine carbon dioxide removal system, which could capture 100 tons of carbon dioxide annually or about as much as 50 cars emit in a year.
- Tested a wave energy converter in hurricane-level waves, which demonstrated the prototype’s durability and showed that marine energy can reliably power data collection and ocean exploration activities.
- Developed and tested methodologies and tools to help researchers better understand and evaluate how environmental stressors related to marine energy technologies may impact marine wildlife.
- Supported multiple projects with custom data acquisition systems to enable marine energy technology developers to collect data on how their prototypes perform in the lab, wave tank tests, or open-ocean trials.
Want more water power? Check out WPTO’s 2021–2022 Accomplishments Report and 2020–2021 Accomplishments Report.
Stay in the know with WPTO! Receive the latest information on funding opportunities, events, and other news by subscribing to the bimonthly Hydro Headlines and Water Column newsletters, as well as the comprehensive, monthly Water Wire newsletter.