DE-FOA-0003103: Innovating Hydropower Flexibility for Energy Resilience

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, on behalf of the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), has announced a critical funding opportunity titled “Strategies to Increase Hydropower Flexibility.” Identified by the number DE-FOA-0003103, this program is part of the energy category, specifically focusing on renewable energy research and development. With an estimated total program funding of $9,500,000, an award ceiling of $4,000,000, and an expected seven awards, this initiative is poised to significantly advance hydropower technology.

The funding opportunity aims to support three complementary strategies for enhancing the flexibility of hydropower: demonstration of hydropower hybrids, innovation in advanced hydropower equipment, and development of new operational strategies. This initiative is a part of the WPTO’s HydroWIRES Initiative, which is focused on understanding, enabling, and improving hydropower’s contributions to reliability, resilience, and integration in the evolving U.S. electricity system. The three main topic areas of the funding opportunity include Hydropower Hybrids Demonstration, Technologies to Increase Flexibility, and Operational Flexibility. These areas are designed to develop advancements that improve hydropower flexibility on multiple scales, from improved plant components to enhanced hybrid capabilities and fleet operations.

Eligibility for this funding is broad, with DOE/NNSA FFRDCs eligible as subrecipients but not as prime recipients, and the same applies to non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs and federal agencies other than DOE. The closing date for applications is set for April 11, 2024, providing a significant opportunity for entities capable of contributing to the advancement of hydropower technology and its flexibility, thereby enhancing energy resilience and sustainability.