Hydropower Research
The Osage Project on Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks tests a retrofit aeration system designed to improve downstream water quality and fish habitat.
Hydropower is the most established of the renewable energy technologies, providing more than 70% of the electricity generated by renewable energy in the United States. About 7% of U.S. electricity is generated by hydropower. Hydropower offers significant advantages over other energy sources: it is a reliable, domestic, renewable resource, and it emits no harmful atmospheric emissions or greenhouse gases. Hydropower projects also provide other benefits, such as water supply, flood control, irrigation, navigation, and recreation.
Hydropower projects also present difficult environmental challenges. The issues confronting the hydropower industry include fish injury and mortality from contact with turbines and other equipment as well as changes to water quality and physical environment around these projects.
The goals for the Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program's hydropower research are to maintain conventional hydropower as an attractive electricity production option for the twenty-first century, increase electricity generation where available without environmental effects, and to assist industry in research, development, and deployment of new marine and hydrokinetic technologies. To develop advanced technology and operational improvements, the hydropower industry relies on aggressive research, development, and support programs.
The program's 2008 priorities for conventional hydropower are to increase efficiency at existing dams while improving the environmental performace of turbines and dams. To maintain and expand hydropower's contribution to the nation, the program's research has focused on the two elements of its mission:
- Enhancing the technical viability of hydropower systems, and
- Expanding the use of hydropower in the marketplace.
In the area of technology viability, the program is pursuing the following:
To increase technology use or application, the program sponsors the following research:
Water Power
The program-supported Water Power research and development activities focus on reducing the cost of new marine and hydrokinetic technologies while improving their reliability and performance. The program will also:
- Study and compare the technologies as they develop,
- Understand and minimize any potential environmental and navigational impacts, and
- Support the development of industry-wide standards.
For more information about the program's Water Power activities, visit the Water Power Web page.