Water Power’s Biggest Splashes of 2024

Hydropower is one of the nation’s largest sources of renewable energy. It accounts for nearly 27% of total U.S. utility-scale renewable electricity generation and 5.7% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation. There are also opportunities for hydropower to grow through the modernization of existing facilities and the development of new ones.

The United States is also home to abundant marine energy resources. The total available marine energy resource is equivalent to nearly 60% of U.S. power generation. Even if only a small percentage of that technical resource potential is captured, marine energy technologies could make significant contributions to the nation’s energy needs with opportunities to power electricity grids, coastal communities, and activities at sea.

Throughout 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) supported efforts to advance hydropower and marine energy. From investments in research and development, to workforce development activities, to new funding opportunities, there’s a lot to celebrate in water power from these past 12 months.

Investing in Water Power Advancements

WPTO opened its largest-ever funding opportunity—up to $112.5 million to advance the commercial readiness of wave energy technologies through open water testing and system validation.
WPTO opened a nearly $5 million opportunity for projects that accelerate the commercialization and adoption of water power systems and solutions. (The office announced the 8 projects selected through this opportunity in January 2025.)
WPTO invested more than $41 million in the National Marine Energy Centers to help strengthen and expand marine energy research and development and bolster testing infrastructure.
Three marine energy projects were selected to receive nearly $16 million—two projects focus on developing a tidal energy research, development, and demonstration pilot site in the United States, and a third project focuses on community-led river current energy research and development.
Nine research and development projects were selected to receive nearly $15 million to increase hydropower's ability to respond to changing demand on electricity grids.
WPTO and WETO, along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, selected 14 projects to receive nearly $17 million to support research for durable and environmentally responsible marine energy and offshore wind energy deployments in the United States.
Working with the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO), WPTO selected 27 R&D projects at 17 universities to receive more than $18 million. These projects will address challenges facing marine and ocean renewable energy industries and spur innovation and development.
WPTO announced nearly $2 million for projects at two universities to advance research on wave-powered technology to desalinate seawater.
Twenty-five small businesses were selected to receive nearly $16.7 million to accelerate the growth of hydropower and marine energy innovation and technology through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
More than $1.7 million went to 16 hydropower and 12 marine energy seedling projects funded under WPTO’s Seedlings and Saplings Program. This program encourages and supports new and innovative research ideas at DOE national laboratories.
Nearly $25 million was allocated for 25 hydropower and marine energy research and development projects across six national labs. This included six sapling projects supported through the Seedlings and Saplings Program.
In collaboration with the Minority-Serving Institutions STEM Research and Development Consortium (MSRDC), WPTO announced nearly $1.2 million for high-impact water power research projects at minority-serving colleges and universities.

DOE renewed funding for the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI)—DOE’s energy innovation hub for desalination—with $75 million over five years to advance desalination and water reuse technologies.

WPTO Deployments: June 2023 – June 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, WPTO, is working to get marine energy projects in the water, taking a no-stone-unturned approach with a mixture of funding sources and working with external partners and national labs alike. Watch this video to get a look at some deployments that took place from June 2023-June 2024.

Leading Innovative Prizes

WPTO chose 22 winners from more than 360 submissions to the Make a Splash Photo and Video Contest. Photographers and videographers, including professionals and amateurs, submitted awe-inspiring content that showcased water power technologies across hydropower and marine energy, research and development activities, infrastructure, and the people behind the sector.

Images from the Make a Splash Contest

Twenty teams won $10,000 each in the first phase of the Power at Sea Prize for developing innovative concepts that use marine energy to power ocean-based activities.
Fifteen teams won $80,000 each in Phase II of the Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize for showcasing the performance capabilities and characteristics of their distributed embedded energy converter technology concepts to harness and convert the power of ocean waves into usable types of energy.

Developing the Future Water Power Workforce

Nine student teams competed in the 2024 Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) and developed solutions for adding power-generating infrastructure to non-powered dams. Northern Arizona University was the overall winner, followed by Johns Hopkins University in second place and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in third place.
The 2024 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) challenged multidisciplinary collegiate teams to develop solutions to help power sectors in the blue economy. The University of New Hampshire was the overall winner, repeating its win from the 2023 competition. Purdue University took second place, and Oakland University and Oregon State University tied in third place.
Students from the HCC and MECC winning teams discussed how they connected with students and local groups in their communities to inspire and encourage learning about water power and renewable energy.
WPTO announced $1 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the Hydropower Foundation’s hydropower workforce development programs.
WPTO selected five students for the 2024 cohort of the Marine Energy Fellowship and announced a new track for recent post-graduates along with the existing track for graduate students. Applications for fall 2025 are open until 5 p.m. ET on March 7, 2025.
A new REDi Island web-based app was launched in 2024, funded by WPTO, expanding Renewable Energy Discovery Island’s educational potential, providing resources for students of all ages at the click of a mouse. REDi Island is part of efforts to respond to a growing need for new talent in the hydropower and marine energy workforces.

Images from the Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions

Providing Technical Expertise and Assistance

WPTO selected 13 technical assistance projects through which hydropower developers and other stakeholders will access DOE national laboratory expertise and capabilities to evaluate opportunities for hydropower hybrids and pumped storage hydropower.
WPTO launched the Hydropower Testing Network, which connects technology developers to a network of 18 test facilities to help boost the readiness of hydropower innovations.
WPTO and Oak Ridge National Laboratory opened a new technical collaboration opportunity for industry partners developing innovative hydropower technologies using advanced materials and manufacturing.
The Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP), co-funded by WPTO, welcomed 25 new coastal, remote and island communities to participate in its technical assistance program. ETIPP engages communities in energy planning, natural disaster preparedness and analysis of renewable energy technologies.

Enhancing Hydropower with Advanced Manufacturing and Materials

Energy demands are on the rise. Modernizing the U.S. hydropower fleet is critical to help meet that demand while achieving energy goals. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office and its partners are exploring new ways to upgrade hydropower in efficient and cost-effective ways using advanced manufacturing and materials.

Providing Expert Research and Analysis and Engaging with Stakeholders

A new report, drawing on feedback from hydropower industry stakeholders, featured actionable recommendations to address five major gaps in the domestic hydropower supply chain.
WPTO hosted three semiannual stakeholder webinars to discuss topical issues in the water power sector and the office’s priorities and recent accomplishments.
WPTO hosted three Deep Dive webinars to share updates on tools, analysis, and emerging technologies to advance marine energy as well as next-generation hydropower and pumped storage systems.
Staff connected with researchers, experts from industry and academia, and other stakeholders across over 20 unique events. WPTO’s “On the Road” articles provide a peek into a few of these events.

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