New Hydropower Without Dams
(EIA photo: Ice Harbor Dam)
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu says hydropower could double in the U.S. He says we could gain 70,000 MW by installing generators on existing dams and using "damless" technology.
This follows an Idaho National Labs report indicating that the U.S. has 300,000 MW of hydro potential, but because of land use restrictions and access problems, about 30,000 MW could be feasibly developed using existing damless technology.
According to the EIA, 70% of our renewable power comes from hydroelectric. In 2009, hydro contributes 6.4% of our total electricity, down from 7.1% in 2006 and over 10% in 1996 & 1997. This is because hydro generation has dropped thanks to drought, while coal- and oil-fired generation has expanded to feed our insatiable desire for more electricity.
The HydroCurrents report says, "[J]ust 3 percent of the U.S.'s more than 82,000 hydroelectric projects generate electricity." But an inquiry to the editor resulted in the following response:
"Apprently, one of my colleagues edited an error into the HydroCurrents piece. It should have said, "3 percent of the nation's more than 82,000 dams generate electricity."
In other words, there's a lot of potential for installing hydroelectric generation on existing dams that don't have it.
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