SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 6, 2026Interesting Engineering

Powering 1.4 million US homes: Untapped dams could generate 15.2 TWh electricity

SMRTR summary

Researchers at Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories found that retrofitting over 2,600 non-powered U.S. dams could generate 15.2 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power 1.4 million homes. Using custom software called HydroGenerate, the team identified 4 gigawatts of potential capacity, with federal facilities and Great Lakes sites leading the way.

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