The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) announced more than $33 million in projects to advance hydropower and marine energy. These selections include more than $8.6 million for 13 hydropower technical assistance projects through the HydroWIRES Initiative and nearly $25 million for 25 hydropower and marine energy research and development projects at six DOE national laboratories.

Hydropower and marine energy technologies are predictable, reliable, and well-suited to help balance electricity grids with higher levels of variable renewable energy like wind energy and solar power. Hydropower plays a key role in ensuring electricity grids remain stable as they evolve to incorporate more variable renewable energy sources, ensuring communities have power when they need it. It currently accounts for about 27% of U.S. utility-scale renewable electricity generation and nearly 6% of the country's total utility-scale electricity generation. 

Meanwhile, marine energy technologies which capture energy from waves, tides, river and ocean currents, and temperature differences in water can power remote and coastal communities, the growing blue economy, and U.S. electricity grids. The total available marine energy resource in the United States is equivalent to approximately 57% of all U.S. power generation. Even if only a small portion of this technical resource potential is captured, marine energy technologies would make significant contributions to U.S. energy needs.

Click here to read the full press release.