Technical Potential for Hydropower Capacity at Non-powered Dams

Dataset · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2024

DOI:https://doi.org/10.21951/2474803· OSTI ID:2474803

Hansen, Carly H. ^[1]; Gallego Calderon, Juan; Bastidas Pacheco, Camilo; Davis, Cleve; Mendadhala, Rohit; Russell, Glenn

---

1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory

In the last decade, retrofits of existing nonpowered dams (NPDs) have made up the largest share of capacity increases for US hydropower. Accurate estimates of potential capacity and generation at NPDs help identify sites that may be worth investing in detailed feasibility analyses and design exploration. This dataset consists of NPDs in the conterminous US with at least 100kW of theoretical potential based on earlier resource assessments. Historical daily streamflow (modeled or from USGS gauge records), hydraulic head (based on historical observations or primary purpose and dam height) are the main inputs for HydroGenerate which determines design flow and turbine efficiencies and then calculates nominal capacity, daily generation, and capacity factor. These outputs are summarized on a monthly basis (i.e., generation (MWh) and capacity factor averaged for each month from January to December) and overall (i.e., nominal capacity, average annual generation (MWh), and average annual capacity factor). A total of 4.1 GW capacity is estimated across all 2,564 NPDs included in the dataset.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 2474803
• Report Number(s): 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY