Modernizing hydropower to continue meeting energy needs into the future is complex. It requires input from many people, but especially those with boots on the ground who can help map the best path forward.

That’s why the Hydropower Vision Roadmap (Roadmap)—an effort from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory—collects regular input from members of the hydropower community to understand where things stand and ways to effectively move the needle forward.

Results from the Roadmap’s annual community survey highlight priority topics across the hydropower community and opportunities for new collaborations across sectors that could propel high-impact progress towards reaching shared goals for the future of hydropower.

Don’t miss your chance to interact with the Roadmap team, share your perspectives, and see the latest demonstrations of innovative work from the hydropower community at the upcoming Clean Currents 2025 conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Learn more about the Roadmap at Clean Currents 2025 in the Next Stop section below.

WHAT IS THE HYDROPOWER VISION ROADMAP?

Developed with input from stakeholders, DOE released the Hydropower Vision in 2016 which summarized the status and potential of hydropower in the United States. Building on that effort, the Hydropower Vision Roadmap was a collaborative effort which created a path to reach shared goals for the future of modern hydropower.

Over the last few years, the Roadmap team has engaged with hundreds of hydropower community members across many sectors—virtually, in-person, and through annual surveys—to gather input on high-impact efforts that can help advance hydropower.

Photo caption: The reimagined Hydropower Vision Roadmap includes goals and activities at multiple scales, from the level of an individual hydropower plant all the way to broader policy and decision-making across entire watersheds. (Illustration by Cortland Johnson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

WHAT HAVE WE HEARD SO FAR?

To help track our path toward hydropower’s future, the Roadmap team conducts an annual survey about ongoing work in the community. Results from the Roadmap’s annual surveys highlight priority areas across sectors and reveal opportunities for promising collaborations between groups that may not typically work together.

The 2023 survey asked the hydropower community what Roadmap activities would have a critical impact on their work and the future of hydropower. Stakeholders from across the hydropower community all prioritized pursuing work that addressed climate resilience, regulatory coordination and consistency, as well as workforce development. These topics reveal the need to support research, development, and outreach at each stage of the hydropower project life cycle.

There were similarities and differences in how groups prioritized work to advance the roadmap. For example, industry stakeholders (like hydropower owner-operators and industry organizations) tended to rank optimized regulatory processes and improved valuation as their top priorities. Resource agencies and environmental NGOs prioritized work in advanced technology and sustainable development and operations.

These findings point to incredible opportunities for cross-sector communication and collaboration. Groups that share priorities may be interested in working together, while groups that prioritize issues outside of their main work focus may be interested in engaging in new areas. Understanding the priorities of their fellow hydropower community members can empower groups to team up and tackle some of the biggest challenges facing hydropower today.

To learn more about different groups’ prioritized work, visit the Hydropower Vision Roadmap website.

The Hydropower Vision Roadmap at the Clean Currents 2024 Innovation Powerhouse. (Photo by Coppersmith Photography)

NEXT STOP: CLEAN CURRENTS 2025

Building on the success of the Roadmap integration with last year’s Clean Currents Innovation Powerhouse, we’re back again in 2025!

In 2024, the Hydropower Vision Roadmap team was at the heart of the conference tradeshow floor. From the Innovation Powerhouse the team shared the Roadmap with thousands of hydropower community members, giving attendees the opportunity to engage with the innovations that are driving progress towards the goals set forth in the Roadmap.

Planning for this year’s activities and demonstrations in the Innovation Powerhouse is underway. Attendees can look forward to live demos on the following topics by experts in their fields: Exact Metrology’s 3D laser scanning and printing, GE Vernova’s hydropower hybrid models, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s bushings test stand, multiple games aimed at inspiring the future hydropower workforce, and many more!

Get involved in the Roadmap effort by visiting the Innovation Powerhouse booth at Clean Currents 2025, subscribing to our email newsletter to stay updated, and submitting ideas for community highlights to be showcased on our website.