past accomplishments
HRF program initiatives seek to strike a balance between industry research and educational outreach. Research efforts focus on facilitating activities that can contribute to improving the delivery or use of hydropower. Educational outreach efforts are designed to help individuals and communities better understand the value of hydropower as part of the nation’s energy mix.
The hydropower industry is committed to an economically viable and environmentally sound future.
Advanced Hydro Turbine Project
The hydro industry, with a jumpstart from the Foundation, joined with the DOE and other federal agencies in an accelerated research and development program to create a new generation of fish-friendly hydro turbines that would minimize environmental impacts to aquatic life in our rivers and, at the same time, provide a more economical energy supply for consumers by increasing plant efficiency. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.
Malad River Trout Modeling Project
HRF joined with the Department of Energy and other federal agencies to develop a new generation of hydro turbines.
The Idaho Power Company (IPC) developed a model with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to assess the flow-related impacts of IPC’s Malad River Hydroelectric Project on rainbow trout. As a non-profit, charitable foundation, the Foundation was able to serve as the mechanism to fund this environmental research.
Hydropower Curriculum
Primary and secondary curriculum development for hydropower education. The Foundation contracted with the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to develop new materials and science kits. The contract included conducting three teacher workshops. Two workshops took place in Washington, DC, during the hydro industry conference in 2008 and 2010. Plans for one more workshop are underway.
Hydro Power Contest
The Hydro Power Contest was an opportunity for students and participants to demonstrate their ideas for turning water into power. The contest was conducted each year from 1991-2005 at the annual summer hydro industry conference. While created before the inception of the Foundation, the Foundation assumed the contest in the early 2000’s. To compete, each individual or team was required to construct a device that converted the gravity potential of water into mechanical power and then submitted the device for testing under competition conditions. During the competition, the mechanical power produced by each device and its efficiency were measured. Winners were awarded prizes, scholarships, and scholarly literature from various professional organizations.
R & D Forum
Two research and development forums have been held with partial support from the Foundation. The first was held 1992 and the second in 2001. In these forums groups of hydro industry professionals gathered together to consider and develop an agenda for future hydro industry research and development activities. Objectives included reviews of ongoing and planned industry research efforts, identification of specific research issues/topics to address and organizations that can support or undertake new research.
Project Aware/Renewable Energy Debate
Project Aware, first initiated by the National Hydropower Association, and then assumed by the Foundation focused on the development of a greater awareness of hydropower, how it worked, where it was deployed, and its value to the national energy portfolio. The program looked for opportunities to educate with a significant interest in reaching the younger generation. In 1997, a unique opportunity presented itself when "Renewable energy" was the national debate topic for competitive high school debate for the 1997-1998 school year. The Foundation catalogued and provided hydropower information to students, teachers and coaches involved in high school debate. This effort was undertaken in cooperation with HCI Publications, publisher of Hydro Review magazine and the organization responsible for gathering, organizing and distributing the information. Well received by teachers, coaches and students alike around the country, the project resulted in the education of a hundreds of young students, some of whom selected hydropower as their topic for debate and became finalists in this national program.
The hydropower industry is committed to an economically viable and environmentally sound future.
Advanced Hydro Turbine Project
The hydro industry, with a jumpstart from the Foundation, joined with the DOE and other federal agencies in an accelerated research and development program to create a new generation of fish-friendly hydro turbines that would minimize environmental impacts to aquatic life in our rivers and, at the same time, provide a more economical energy supply for consumers by increasing plant efficiency. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.
Malad River Trout Modeling Project
HRF joined with the Department of Energy and other federal agencies to develop a new generation of hydro turbines.
The Idaho Power Company (IPC) developed a model with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to assess the flow-related impacts of IPC’s Malad River Hydroelectric Project on rainbow trout. As a non-profit, charitable foundation, the Foundation was able to serve as the mechanism to fund this environmental research.
Hydropower Curriculum
Primary and secondary curriculum development for hydropower education. The Foundation contracted with the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to develop new materials and science kits. The contract included conducting three teacher workshops. Two workshops took place in Washington, DC, during the hydro industry conference in 2008 and 2010. Plans for one more workshop are underway.
Hydro Power Contest
The Hydro Power Contest was an opportunity for students and participants to demonstrate their ideas for turning water into power. The contest was conducted each year from 1991-2005 at the annual summer hydro industry conference. While created before the inception of the Foundation, the Foundation assumed the contest in the early 2000’s. To compete, each individual or team was required to construct a device that converted the gravity potential of water into mechanical power and then submitted the device for testing under competition conditions. During the competition, the mechanical power produced by each device and its efficiency were measured. Winners were awarded prizes, scholarships, and scholarly literature from various professional organizations.
R & D Forum
Two research and development forums have been held with partial support from the Foundation. The first was held 1992 and the second in 2001. In these forums groups of hydro industry professionals gathered together to consider and develop an agenda for future hydro industry research and development activities. Objectives included reviews of ongoing and planned industry research efforts, identification of specific research issues/topics to address and organizations that can support or undertake new research.
Project Aware/Renewable Energy Debate
Project Aware, first initiated by the National Hydropower Association, and then assumed by the Foundation focused on the development of a greater awareness of hydropower, how it worked, where it was deployed, and its value to the national energy portfolio. The program looked for opportunities to educate with a significant interest in reaching the younger generation. In 1997, a unique opportunity presented itself when "Renewable energy" was the national debate topic for competitive high school debate for the 1997-1998 school year. The Foundation catalogued and provided hydropower information to students, teachers and coaches involved in high school debate. This effort was undertaken in cooperation with HCI Publications, publisher of Hydro Review magazine and the organization responsible for gathering, organizing and distributing the information. Well received by teachers, coaches and students alike around the country, the project resulted in the education of a hundreds of young students, some of whom selected hydropower as their topic for debate and became finalists in this national program.