Read the letter from Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, featured in the Water Power Technologies Office’s 2020-2021 Accomplishments Report.
Water Power Technologies Office
March 9, 2022
minute read time
Dear colleagues,
It has been an exciting year at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and in the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO). Partners across the country led and supported dozens of WPTO-funded research, development, and demonstration projects, contributing to crucial efforts to address climate change and transition our energy system. The hydropower and marine energy industries have essential roles in achieving the Biden administration’s goals of creating a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.
WPTO and its partners are helping to meet these goals with projects that include a new methodology and tool to value pumped storage hydropower and other long-duration storage assets on the electricity grid. These resources will help developers and investors better predict revenue and regulators better understand these projects’ value. In addition, WPTO supported in-water demonstrations of varied marine energy devices, helping to advance these renewable energy technologies that can support decarbonization goals.
These projects—and the many others featured in WPTO’s 2020-2021 Accomplishments Report—demonstrate the incredible value of water power technologies in our clean energy future. DOE will continue to invest in these technologies and build on the accomplishments of the water power research community with funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes nearly $1 billion for hydropower and marine energy programs under DOE. More information on these investments is available in DOE’s fact sheet.
I congratulate everyone who worked on the projects described in this report—and the dozens of additional projects still underway—and look forward to what you accomplish in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Kelly Speakes-Backman
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
WPTO 2020-2021 Accomplishments Report
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Upstream Tech used machine learning and satellite data to develop more accurate streamflow forecasts that will help hydropower developers and regulators make more informed decisions about future hydropower projects and operations. -
With support from partners, the U.S. Department of Energy’s I AM Hydro Prize awarded $175,000 in cash prizes to 11 teams for their novel concepts to apply new advanced manufacturing techniques for hydropower. -
To support irrigation districts in upgrading outdated systems, national laboratory researchers developed a tool that provides system designs for districts to understand the benefits of hydropower to decarbonize agriculture. -
Natel Energy conducted fish passage tests with its Restoration Hydropower Turbine and found a 100% survival rate for adult rainbow trout and American eels.
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