Kacey Roberts
General Electric‘s technology development arm has secured a Department of Energy grant to create and demonstrate a novel approach for increasing the operational flexibility and capacity of hydroelectric power plants through a $4.3 million project.
Under a cost-sharing arrangement, DOE will provide $3 million to the project while GE Research and its industry partners will cover the remaining $1.3 million, the company said Friday.
Other participants in the 30-month effort are Eagle Creek Renewable Power, FirstLight Power and the hydro business under GE’s renewable energy segment.
The team plans to develop a joint control system and install sensors at three facilities for the electricity generation demo.
Arvind Tiwari, advanced technology platform leader for the electrical systems group at GE Research, said he believes the application of such technologies would expand hydro plant capabilities and support grid balance.
Tiwari serves as the project’s principal investigator.
