Hydro, Sourcing Renewables  -  March 24, 2023

DOE and TVA Collaborate on Hydropower

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of hydropower technology. Specifically, the MOU is focused on evaluating and demonstrating approaches for operating hydropower plants to meet the changing needs of the electricity grid.

“We appreciate this partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy as we look to advance hydropower technologies that will not only provide affordable, reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy but also bring jobs and investment to the seven-state region we serve,” stated Dr. Joe Hoagland, Vice President of Innovation & Research at TVA.

Through its Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), the Department of Energy will collaborate with TVA to focus on quantifying the value hydropower and pumped storage facilities provide to the electricity grid and applying advanced modeling to predict the effects of climate change on TVA's hydropower systems. They will also work to understand how fleetwide data can inform plant-level decisions, like when to conduct maintenance activities.

“Today’s hydropower fleet has a crucial role to play in achieving the United States’ clean energy goals, but strategies for operating those plants will have to evolve as more renewable energy resources come onto the grid,” said WPTO Director Jennifer Garson.

TVA’s hydroelectric system comprises 29 power-generating dams throughout the Tennessee River system and a pumped storage plant near Chattanooga, Tenn., and its generation portfolio is 11% hydropower.

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