DOE awards $71.5M to improve efficiency of hydropower plants
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 46 hydroelectric projects across 19 states to receive up to $71.5 million in incentive payments to boost the efficiency of hydropower plants.
The Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentive program, which is administered by the Grid Deployment Office and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is the DOE’s largest investment in hydroelectric facilities to date.
“Hydropower is the nation’s prototype of renewable power playing an important role in deploying affordable and reliable electricity across the country,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “Thanks to the President’s Investing in America agenda we are maintaining and expanding our hydropower fleets, helping reduce costs of operation and ensuring American workers continue to drive the nation’s clean energy transition.”
The incentive program received a lot of industry interest, with applications requesting a total of $192 million in federal support.
The selected improvements are anticipated to generate $468 million in combined federal and private investment. In short, they will support the continued operation of the U.S. hydropower fleet and ensure a more reliable and resilient electric grid system.
The owners or operators of the hydroelectric facilities receiving the efficiency incentives will make capital improvements that improve their facility’s efficiency by an average of 14 percent. Investments include upgrades to facility turbines and generators, as well as improvements to water conveyance structures, to increase efficiency.
The 46 selected projects can be found in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
Hydropower currently accounts for about 27 percent of renewable electricity generation in the United States, as well as 93 percent of all utility-scale energy storage capacity. Further, the U.S. hydroelectric fleet and their associated reservoirs play an important role with respect to water supply, flood control, and recreation.
A public webinar will be held at 1:00 p.m. ET on Feb. 7, 2024, to provide an overview of the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives selections and key trends identified.
