A total of 16 research and development projects in 11 US states have been selected through a competitive grant process to receive the funding.
These projects will advance sustainable energy generation from small (less than 30MW) hydropower resources, enhance environmental performance of hydropower and test cost-effective technologies for hydropower development at low-head (less than a 30ft drop) sites.
The projects focus on four approaches to advancing hydropower in the US which include sustainable small hydropower, sustainable pumped storage hydropower, environmental mitigation technologies for conventional hydropower, and advanced hydropower system testing at a Bureau of Reclamation facility.
DOE said the funding will help advance the nation’s goal of meeting 80% of electricity needs in the US from clean energy sources by 2035.
