Through continued engagement with a dedicated community of small hydropower stakeholders, SMH collaborative research and development will address opportunities, risks, and challenges associated with small hydropower development and the realization of standard modular technologies.
ORNL and DOE intend to maintain a highly collaborative R&D space that drives the small hydropower stakeholder community towards a consensus on SMH technology and facility design criteria while generating innovative ideas and acceptance criteria for future small hydropower development. Sustained engagement with stakeholders across the hydropower development community will be pivotal in ensuring site assessment tools and SMH technologies evolve from concept to practical testing and usage.
At present, the two pathways for engagement and collaboration with ORNL on the SMH project include industry partnerships and publication review and comment. Future opportunities will include workshops, webinars, tool and protocol development, and continued partnerships to develop and advance SMH technologies.
ORNL is seeking collaboration with industry partners to develop frameworks and tools for demonstrating and advancing SMH technologies. Mechanisms for collaboration and technology transfer include but will not be limited to Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Interagency Agreements (IAAs), workshops, and other elicitation.
In addition, the US Department of Energy has recently communicated a Funding Opportunity Announcement, which will offer up to two funding awards for the development of innovative standard modular hydropower facility designs that are cost efficient, scalable, provide timely passage of fish, sediment, and recreational craft, and offer additional co-benefits beyond energy generation (e.g. water quality enhancement, invasive species control, hydrologic restoration, recreation opportunities, etc.).
If you or your business would like to learn more about the SMH project and potential partnership opportunities with ORNL, please Contact Us.
Active Engagement Activities:
ORNL is seeking review and public comment on the structure and content of three foundational SMH publications: 1) A Multi-Year Plan for Research, Development, and Prototype Testing of Standard Modular Hydropower Technology, 2) Exemplary Design Envelope Specification for Standard Modular Hydropower Technology, and 3) Simulation and Modeling Capability for Standard Modular Hydropower Technology. These documents are available on the Publications page.
Please Contact Us to discuss how you can provide feedback on these important documents.