WPTO Releases $4 Million Funding Opportunity to Advance Fish Passage and Protection Technologies

Office: Water Power Technologies Office
FOA number: DE-FOA-0002801
Link to apply: Apply on EERE Exchange
FOA Amount: $4 million

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) today released a $4 million funding opportunity to reduce the environmental impacts of hydropower with research to enhance innovative fish passage and protection technologies.

This funding opportunity seeks to advance the technology readiness level of innovative fish passage and protection technologies through testing to verify technologies’ biological effects and performance.

Technology innovations that may apply for funding include novel solutions that have already established proof-of-concept but require testing as a next step toward market adoption, as well as advancements to established technologies that show potential to reduce negative impacts to fish, increase technology performance, dramatically reduce costs, and/or present novel applications (such as use for different fish species, environmental conditions, or types of infrastructure) but require testing to quantify those improvements.

Improvements in technology to help fish move safely through hydropower facilities reduces environmental impacts and helps to restore fish population levels. Fish passage and protection technologies provide a way for fish to navigate barriers such as dams and impoundments and provide river connectivity by enabling fish movement and migrations.

Advancing new or more effective fish passage and protection technologies could enable improved environmental outcomes for both new and existing hydropower plants and expand environmental mitigation options available to plant owners seeking licensing or relicensing.

WPTO encourages underserved communities and underrepresented groups to participate in this funding opportunity. Applicants are highly encouraged to include individuals from groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math on their project teams. Further, minority-serving institutions, minority business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, or entities located in an underserved community that meet the eligibility requirements described in the funding opportunity are encouraged to apply as the prime applicant or participate on an application as a proposed partner to the prime applicant.

WPTO estimates making up to five awards under the Advancing Fish Passage and Protection Technologies funding opportunity, ranging between $500,000 and $1,300,000.

Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 5, 2022, to be eligible to submit a full application.

Webinar

WPTO will host an informational webinar at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 8, 2022, to discuss the funding opportunity and areas of focus. Register for the webinar.

Learn more about additional opportunities from WPTO.

Topic Area: Fish Passage Biological and Performance Evaluations Testing Campaign

This funding opportunity seeks to advance the technology readiness level of innovative fish passage and protection technologies by providing data through testing to verify technologies’ biological effects and performance. Technology innovations include novel solutions that have already established proof-of-concept but require testing as a next step toward market adoption, as well as advancements to existing technologies that show potential to reduce negative impacts to fish, increase technology performance, dramatically reduce costs, and/or present novel applications (such as use for different fish species, environmental conditions, or types of infrastructure) but require testing to quantify those improvements.

Key Dates

Additional Information

• Download the full funding opportunity on EERE Exchange.
• For FOA-specific support, contact [email protected].
• Learn about efforts underway as part of WPTO’s Environmental and Hydrologic Systems Science Activity Area.
• Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities.
• Receive the latest information on WPTO funding opportunities, events, and other news by subscribing to the monthly Hydro Headlines and Water Column newsletters, as well as the comprehensive, bimonthly Water Wire newsletter.