WIC - DOE Feedback (Topic 4: Env. R&D)
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Topic: WIC - DOE Feedback (Topic 4: Env. R&D)
Posted By: jose.zayas@eaglecreekre.com
Subject: WIC - DOE Feedback (Topic 4: Env. R&D)
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 2:25pm
WIC Community, per their request, we are looking to provide DOE feedback on their current investment profile and priorities. This is a great opportunity to share our industry's thoughts on Ideas, Concerns and Suggestions.
NOTE: Our formal response will be normalized and not attributed to any company.
Schedule: Due 6/12/2020
Environmental R&D and Hydrologic Systems Science: Technology advancements and strategies that can help to avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental effects and also aid in impact evaluation. Development of new cutting-edge and lower cost environmental monitoring technologies and designs, metrics for improved evaluation of environmental sustainability, as well as potential impacts of long-term hydrologic variations to hydropower generation and flexibility.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping steer the investments at our Agency(s).
Jose, Steve and Luciana
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Replies:
Posted By: steve.wenke@avistacorp.com
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2020 at 11:25am
This is an important companion research area along with the modular hydro concepts. The ability for the industry to reduce its first cost is crucial for new developments. Ways that this research can create more standardized approaches to responsible mitigation of environmental impacts of facilities must happen for long term success of the industry. Small hydro in particular.
Additionally, understanding the envelope that hydro assets can operate within and still achieve the environmental goals is critical. This can only be determined with extensive analysis of these environmental issues and consideration of ways they can be responsibly mitigated and allow more flexibility of operation.
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Posted By: v3@whooshh.com
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 4:46pm
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Technology for fish passage and data collection have already greatly improved over the last few years. We should be encouraging the use of modular fish page technology and continue testing of different species and applications. Additionally, automated modular fish passage can help to provide real-time standardized data which would allow for the removal of invasive species. Rather than work to just mitigate hydro’s impact on a waterway, we can work to improve the waterway.
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Posted By: sarah.kulpa@hdrinc.com
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 2:24pm
There is a tremendous amount of research on/applicable to this topic continually being performed in support of FERC licensings and relicensings. These study reports and methodologies are already publicly available, but there is no catalog or index. While licensing studies are site-specific, methods and conclusions may be applicable to other projects.
Licensing studies could be tracked/indexed (by DOE) in a manner similar to the working WIC index. ORNL's HydroGIS Viewer already provides a means for spatially locating FERC projects, so it would also be possible to categorize research by geographic region or drainage basin. Benefits would extend but not be limited to FERC licensees (resource for planning/executing licensings), developers (applicable studies and data for new hydro), researchers, natural resource agencies, vendors and service providers, and FERC staff.
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Posted By: bhadjerioua@mesainc.com
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2020 at 11:47am
Just a note to consider for discussion: We need to provide specific guidance to support the many on-going research and future potential R&D hydro.
There is a great need and potential for new hydro development (small hydro and PSH in the U.S.), however, the main two reasons for the lack or slow development and implantation is/was ultimately due to cost benefit and environment.
Strategic approach:
Small Hydro:
a. lower the cost via new technologies (material/equipment)+ minimizing env. impact (smart locations and engineering designs): Avoid the "old school" approach.
PSH:
a. Avoid "mega" structures with times over 10 years (financial burden)but if needed it should be "make money as you are building it" Modular approach.
b. Select sites (closed-loop) with zero env. impact
c. minimize time/cost (new innovative technology: equipment + construction)and maximize revenues (best locations,... markets)
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