DOE's Water Power Technologies Office releases 2022–2023 highlights report

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) has released its 2022–2023 Accomplishments Report, which showcases more than 40 hydropower and marine energy successes from WPTO-funded projects at DOE national laboratories, companies and academic institutions. 

“Our accomplishments report offers a glimpse into some of the incredible projects under way to advance hydropower and marine energy technologies,” said WPTO Director Jennifer Garson. “I appreciate the efforts from everyone who contributed not only to these projects but also to the many efforts that are not included in the report. Together, we’re working to realize the full potential of water power to help achieve our country’s clean energy goals.”

As part of WPTO’s Hydropower Program, researchers:

• Examined how advanced manufacturing and materials could benefit the hydropower sector by lowering operation costs and increasing the efficiency of the existing fleet and future facilities.
• Developed a map and web tool to help hydropower stakeholders understand how the Inflation Reduction Act’s investment tax credits can be used to develop pumped storage hydropower projects across the U.S.
• Worked with hydropower stakeholders to adapt an open-source software solution to support cybersecurity at hydropower facilities.
• Supported the 25th annual Salmon Summit, an educational event designed, in part, to inspire the next generation of hydropower researchers; other diverse science, technology, engineering and math professionals; and a science-aware community.
• Evaluated challenges and opportunities facing the hydropower industry and how it could attract a new, more diverse workforce.

Through WPTO’s Marine Energy Program, researchers:

• Deployed a first-of-its-kind electrochemical marine carbon dioxide removal system, which could capture 100 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
• Tested a wave energy converter in hurricane-level waves, which demonstrated the prototype’s durability and showed that marine energy can reliably power data collection and ocean exploration activities.
• Developed and tested methodologies and tools to help researchers better understand and evaluate how environmental stressors related to marine energy technologies may impact marine wildlife.
• Supported multiple projects with custom data acquisition systems to enable marine energy technology developers to collect data on how their prototypes perform in the lab, wave tank tests or open-ocean trials.