Overview/Objective
The US Hydropower Market Report (HMR) is the only regularly updated source of comprehensive information on the status and direction of US hydropower. This public report serves the hydropower community, including industry stakeholders and policymakers, by detailing the latest capabilities, development activities, and performance, price, and supply chain trends.
First published in 2015, the HMR was commissioned by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to fill a gap in publicly available, comprehensive data on the US hydropower fleet. The report tracks activities throughout the lifecycle of US hydropower plants, including new project permitting and construction, license transfers, relicensing, and license surrenders. It also documents trends in the performance of the fleet, accounting for the diversity of facilities from large, federally owned, multipurpose water resource projects to small, privately owned plants.
As a leader in hydropower research and host of the HydroSource water-energy data repository, DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) compiles and publishes the report for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy using data from a combination of public and commercial databases.
Implementation Strategy
ORNL produces the HMR using a systematic approach to collect, aggregate, and analyze data on hydropower infrastructure across the United States. The report integrates information from public and private sources to create a detailed picture of the nation's hydropower fleet, including operational metrics, development projects, and lifecycle activities.
Results and Distribution
Four full reports have been published in 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2023, and updated summary slides are published annually. All HMR materials are available through ORNL's HydroSource data hub, providing easy access for industry, policymakers, and researchers. Executive summaries are distributed at key hydropower community events, such as Waterpower Week and HydroVision, and key findings are shared with the public through press releases, social media, and ORNL’s website.
Impact
The HMR serves as an unbiased, objective reference for US hydropower development, prices, and trends, offering critical information for strategic planning, policy proposals, and industry decision-making. The report informs research and development planning within the DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office and plays an essential role in public outreach by enhancing the understanding of hydropower’s contribution to the US electric grid.
Hydropower plays a key role in decarbonizing the nation’s electricity sector while providing flexibility and resilience to the grid. The HMR supports these efforts by offering insights that help stakeholders make informed decisions about hydropower’s role in the evolving energy landscape.
Related Publications
Hydropower Market Report 2023 - Published September 2023
Hydropower Market Report 2021- Published January 2021
Updates to Hydropower Market Report 2017 – Published December 2018
Hydropower Market Report 2017 – Published 2018
Updates to Hydropower Market Report 2014 – Published December 2016
Updates to Hydropower Market Report 2014 – Published December 2015
Hydropower Market Report 2014 – Published 2015
