| Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed the Hydropower Advancement Project, an initiative for audits and feasibility studies at hydropower facilities and non-powered dams, to promote the application of advanced hydropower technology through an assessment, upgrade design, and upgrade demonstration process. The program evaluates the overall efficiency of hydropower projects compared to the designed performance level or the industry’s best practices. The difference between observed performance and best practice is the potential for increased energy from the available water. The immediate outcomes of an energy audit for a hydropower site would include (a) identifying actions that can improve energy performance, (b) prioritizing improvement activities, and (c) identifying metrics and targets that site operators can use to track improvements. |
