The US Department of Energy (DOE) has approved $7 million in funding for the further development of innovative technologies for low-impact hydropower systems.
The funding will be used to help advance hydropower drivetrains, and develop structural foundations that will minimize environmental impacts and reduce the lifetime costs associated with operating and maintaining new hydropower projects
Other specific areas of interest include rapidly deployable and removable hydropower technologies, such as innovative prefabricated structures, water impoundment structures, and water conveyance systems.
While hydropower currently supplies around 7% of the US' electricity, the country still has significant untapped potential, with recent DOE reports suggesting that an additional 65GW of hydropower potential exists in undeveloped rivers and streams, with more than 12GW of hydro potential at existing non-powered dams.
Details of the full funding opportunity can be found on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Funding Opportunity Exchange.
