Innovative Water Power Technologies Program

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO)

Purpose

To support promising, potentially high-impact water power research ideas from minority-serving colleges and universities.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Researchers from minority-serving colleges and universities, especially new entrants or those who have not recently worked with the WPTO, are eligible to apply. Areas of interest include new and innovative ideas to advance marine energy, and hydrologic and/or hydropower systems modeling for climate resilience.

Decarbonization Considerations

WPTO seeks to better understand opportunities to innovate marine energy and hydropower. The goal is to make them more environmentally sustainable, increase energy storage capacity, serve the penetration of renewable energy in the grid, and modernize the industry. Besides, consider projects advancing hydrologic and/or hydropower systems modeling to better understand the impact of changing climate and weather patterns on water and power management.

Equity Considerations

This opportunity is exclusively for minority-serving colleges and universities. Researchers whose work has robust and deep ties to their communities and will be able to leverage those ties in their projects are particularly encouraged to apply. Besides, WPTO is expanding opportunities to realize the unique value proposition for smaller-scale marine energy systems within the blue economy. Such advancement can help power microgrids in remote coastal communities, including those currently dependent on fossil fuels.

Helpful Tips

This opportunity also includes an open topic that seeks ideas for research and development activities that more broadly support objectives outlined in WPTO’s Multi-Year Program Plan. If interested, check here: https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/multi-year-program-plan

Other Notes

N/A