What does the future of hydropower look like?

The U.S. Department of Energy has the answer with its recently released forecast and roadmap for hydropower from the present to the year 2050. Among the findings, researchers foresee a hydropower environment in which generating capacity will grow from 101 GW to 150 GW, providing clean, reliable, and available energy.

Unlike other renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, hydropower tends to be more stable and reliable, and less affected by the short-term variability of the weather. Thus, hydropower will continue to be an important component of the future electricity generation and distribution landscape. Moreover, advances in hydropower technology over the next few decades are predicted to result in greater efficiency and less water consumption.

Find all of the key findings and the full report at energy.gov.

Many of hydropower’s technological innovations will be driven and facilitated by advanced hydrodynamics analysis and simulation software such as EFDC_Explorer. With features such as 3D hydrodynamics modeling, hydrothermal analysis, sediment analysis, and water quality, EFDC_Explorer gives scientists and engineers the power to optimize the siting, design, and operation of new and existing hydropower generation and pumped-storage facilities.

Read more about how EFDC_Explorer is helping to drive hydroelectric power projects in North America and Asia.