Study Outlines Path for Small Hydropower Facilities to Connect to the Electric Grid

A team of researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducted a study and compiled data on costs and timelines for small hydropower interconnection projects to create a one-stop shop for facility owners and operators as they look to connect new and existing facilities to the electricity grid.

Before this study was completed, facilities would often begin the process of an interconnection project but then encounter unexpected challenges, costs, feasibility studies, and questions on how to best collaboratively interact with utilities. The results from the Small Hydropower Grid Interconnection study will help facility owners and operators obtain a better up-front understanding of the costs, timelines, and potential challenges of their grid interconnection projects.

This information can help owners and operators of small hydropower facilities—those that generate less than 20 megawatts of power—evaluate whether interconnection to a utility’s power grid is something that makes sense for them to undertake. The study also contains information about challenges previous project developers faced that can inform a more accurate and complete timeline of an interconnection project before it begins. Owners and operators can also look at data from similar projects to see where in the process delays occurred and how the final cost was impacted.

This report collates many pertinent details about hundreds of small hydropower projects and their associated interconnection challenges and costs, along with a collection of state-by-state interconnection policies and procedures.