Facilities Invited To Join New Hydropower Testing Network

Academic Institutions and Private, National, and Federal Laboratories Can Apply To Become a Test Facility

July 2, 2024 | By Brittany Enos | Contact media relations
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) recently launched the Hydropower Testing Network (HyTN) to connect hydropower technology developers with testing capability providers that can help developers advance their technologies toward commercialization.

A hydropower plant lit up at night

Natel Energy’s LIHI-certified Monroe Drop Hydropower plant is seen in Madras, Oregon. Photo from Andrew Baumgartner, Natel

For hydropower to make the most impact in the clean energy transition, U.S. hydropower facilities will need upgrades and new technologies will need to be developed. This requires access to a wide range of testing capabilities. HyTN was designed to increase access to testing, which will help boost the technology readiness of hydropower innovations.

In Phase 1 of HyTN, academic institutions and private, national, and federal laboratories are invited to apply to become a test facility (or voucher provider) if they have existing capabilities to test hydropower technologies. Capabilities of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Hydraulic testing
  • Mechanical, material, and structural testing
  • Electrical and electronic testing
  • Biological and aquatic testing.

Prospective test facilities should submit their application on the ENERGYWERX page by August 8, 2024. Facility selections are expected to be complete by fall 2024, at which time HyTN Phase 2 will open to technology developers seeking vouchers.

The HyTN voucher opportunity is funded by WPTO and managed by ENERGYWERX in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative partnership intermediary agreement set up by DOE's Office of Technology Transitions.

Read the full article, originally published by WPTO, to learn more about the HyTN voucher opportunity.

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Tags: Hydropower,Water