Hydropower—energy created from fresh, moving water—is the world's oldest form of renewable energy. Throughout human history, we have used the power of rivers and streams to produce flour, lumber, paper, textiles, and metal products. Today, we still use water to generate clean, affordable electricity.
The hydropower industry is critical to the Biden Administration's goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Hydropower already plays an important role in our power system—it provides 37% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and 93% of grid-scale energy storage—and yet it still has untapped potential and significant opportunity for growth. However, this growth can only be realized with further innovation and a new generation of skilled workers to support this clean energy transition.
To pave the way for the next generation of workers to start their careers in the hydropower and renewable energy industries, U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with the Hydropower Foundation, established the Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) in 2022. The HCC calls on interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of academic programs to offer unique solutions to complex hydropower challenges.
By participating in the HCC, students gain industry experience, valuable exposure to hydropower career pathways, and greater knowledge of hydropower’s potential to contribute to a clean energy future.
Deadline: April 24, 2023
Teams must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
Teams should strive to include a diverse range of academic disciplines, including but not limited to:
Teams should also strive to include in their teams individuals from groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
