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Training, continuing education, and professional development are commonly identified needs of today’s water power industry.
A major feature of the “for the industry, by the industry” Clean Currents conference + tradeshow, owned and organized by the National Hydropower Association (NHA), is education.
This year’s event starts with a focus on learning – attendees can choose from twelve deep dive workshops on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The Clean Currents Content Development Committee and NHA staff have identified critical topics to focus on in the workshops and recruited top-notch instructors.
With subject matter ranging from dam safety to state water rights in the northwest United States, Clean Currents has something for everyone.
Participation in the workshops are open to all attendees with no extra charges to participate.
Check out the workshop options below:
- 3rd EPRI Hydropower Materials Research Workshop: Road to 2030: Hydropower Material and Repairs Needs
- Building Workforce Connections and Illuminating Pathways in the Water Power Sector
- Considering Indirect Mitigation in Hydro Project Licensing and Compliance
- Cybersecurity Risk Quantification and Valuation for Hydropower
- Dam Safety: Insights and Updates on Regulations and Impacts of Extreme Weather
- Demystifying Decommissioning: Navigating License Surrender, Project Decommissioning, and Dam Removal
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion – Pathway Forward: Official Launch of the New DEI Framework Tool
- Doing Business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or Bureau of Reclamation – Tips and Tricks
- Habitat Mitigation that Works with the River: Using Ecology and Geomorphology to Identify, Design, and Implement Protection, Mitigation, and Enhancement Measures
- Input on U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower Program Strategy
- State Water Rights in the Northwest
- Transformers: Specifications, Asset Management, and Procurement
SPOTLIGHT ON THE OFFERINGS: WORKSHOPS AT CLEAN CURRENTS
3rd EPRI Hydropower Materials Research Workshop: Road to 2030: Hydropower Material and Repairs Needs: This workshop brings together asset owners, materials experts, and researchers to discuss hydropower materials risks, challenges, and lessons learned. It covers topics such as cavitation remediation, runner analysis, stainless steel applications, and advanced manufacturing opportunities. Workshop faculty include representatives from asset owners, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the hydropower research community.
Building Workforce Connections and Illuminating Pathways in the Water Power Sector: This interactive workshop introduces HydroConnect, a forthcoming platform designed to support both employers and job seekers in the hydropower industry. Attendees will provide input to help shape its development and explore tools and resources it might offer. The workshop also covers workforce development initiatives, including diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, with input from various organizations involved in hydropower and river restoration.
Considering Indirect Mitigation in Hydro Project Licensing and Compliance: This workshop explores off-site (indirect) mitigation as a potential tool in FERC hydropower licensing, focusing on its benefits for U.S. waterways. Key issues include the project’s relevance to FERC’s mitigation considerations, enforceability of measures, and consistency with waterway development. A subgroup of Uncommon Dialogue Working Group 3/5 has begun addressing these issues with input from various stakeholders, and the workshop will feature a panel discussion and participant input to shape future work.
Cybersecurity Risk Quantification and Valuation for Hydropower: Hydropower facilities are key targets for malicious actors due to their grid support functions, making cybersecurity risk management essential. This workshop focuses on cybersecurity risk valuation, helping attendees make informed investment decisions. Participants will learn how to quantify risks, which is essential for setting cybersecurity budgets, especially for operational technologies like control systems and non-IT systems.
Dam Safety: Insights and Updates on Regulations and Impacts of Extreme Weather: The Dam Safety Forum, hosted by the NHA’s Hydropower Technical Community (HTC), is open to all Clean Currents attendees interested in dam safety challenges and solutions. Discussions will cover the 2024 Iowa-Minnesota-South Dakota floods and Rapidan in Michigan and Manawa Dam Breaches, highlighting the need for improved flood management and climate resilience, along with insights on dam safety efforts. Additionally, the forum will feature an interactive session with FERC D2SI, offering updates on dam safety regulations and guidelines for conducting Comprehensive Assessments.
Demystifying Decommissioning: Navigating License Surrender, Project Decommissioning, and Dam Removal: Over the next 15 years, 500 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulated hydropower projects will come up for relicensing, with many owners facing decisions to renew or retire their projects. Aging dams can pose safety risks, harm aquatic life, and become financial burdens, leading some to consider removal. This workshop aims to guide dam owners in making informed decisions to minimize risks and costs when contemplating decommissioning or project surrender.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion – Pathway Forward: Official Launch of the New DEI Framework Tool: Renewables Forward and its collective of organizations created a “Pathway Forward” diversity, equity, and inclusion framework and actionable plan, which organizations can opt-in and deploy for their staff and communities. A few hydropower organizations, and others in renewable energy, participated in the pilot phase to provide experiential feedback and fine tune its components. The wider launch of the program will take place at Clean Currents, where attendees can learn more about how it can inform their work.
Doing Business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or Bureau of Reclamation – Tips and Tricks: This workshop is designed for service and product suppliers interested in working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. Contracting and procurement specialists will provide valuable tips on using SAM.gov, finding information about upcoming acquisitions, RFP submittal instructions, proposal development, and key contacts.
Habitat Mitigation that Works with the River: Using Ecology and Geomorphology to Identify, Design, and Implement Protection, Mitigation, and Enhancement Measures: Habitat mitigation is a common requirement in FERC Settlement Agreements, but meeting 40-year performance objectives for these projects can be challenging due to the dynamic nature of river systems. Successful mitigation design must consider the ecological and geomorphic context of rivers, as well as the impacts of climate change on flooding patterns. This workshop will share lessons from FERC licensees on designing effective, long-lasting projects, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches and long-term management strategies, while also navigating regulatory requirements.
Input on U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower Program Strategy: This workshop invites participants to provide input on U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) hydropower funding priorities for 2026-2030. Led by DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), the discussion will focus on key activity areas, such as: low-impact hydropower growth, grid reliability, fleet modernization, and environmental R&D. Participants will help shape WPTO’s strategy for its updated Hydropower Program.
State Water Rights in the Northwest: Organized by the Northwest Hydroelectric Association (NWHA), this workshop explores the regulatory framework for water rights in FERC licensing, focusing on case law concerning the preemption of state water rights by the Federal Power Act. The workshop will review recent state proposals affecting hydropower water rights, discuss their potential implications, and outline NWHA’s responses. Topics include: water rights in the Federal Power Act, practical impacts on project licensing and operation, and recent federal and state actions challenging the current framework.
Transformers: Specifications, Asset Management, and Procurement: This workshop covers writing specifications for replacement transformers, evaluating dielectric liquids, and asset management strategies to address long transformer procurement times. A featured case study highlights Douglas County PUD’s decision to replace aging transformers at Wells Dam, opting for synthetic ester over mineral oil to improve reliability and reduce environmental risks. The workshop will also explore the benefits of synthetic ester liquids and the process of transitioning from mineral oil in transformer designs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about the workshops taking place at Clean Currents, click here.
If you haven’t registered for Clean Currents, you can register here.
