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Optimizing Hydropower Operations through Basin-Scale Coordination for Energy-Water Resilience

This white paper aligns with the Water for Energy focal area and advances energy-water resilience through basin-scale coordination of hydropower operations. It outlines a transition from top-down management approaches to bottom-up, stakeholder-driven approach to improve hydropower...

Davis, L., Corsair, H., Ossa, D., and Nachman, M.

Unlocking Hydropower Potential from Environmental Flows for Energy-Water Resilience

This white paper examines how mandated environmental flow (E-flow) releases at hydropower dams can be leveraged to generate renewable energy while maintaining ecological integrity. Environmental flows sustain aquatic ecosystems but often bypass turbines, representing lost generati...

DeNeale, S., Connor, M., and McManamay, R.

Co-Development Opportunities Between Hydropower and Municipal Water and Wastewater Infrastructures

This white paper outlines opportunities to modernize U.S. water-energy infrastructure through co-development of hydropower with municipal water and wastewater systems. It highlights the untapped potential of integrating hydropower generation into new and existing water supply proj...

Chu, A., and DeNeale, S.

Synergistic Pathways for Water Security in Emerging Sectors: Data Centers and Modern Nuclear Facilities

Stand-alone data centers, nuclear-powered data centers, and novel nuclear facilities such as fusion plant and small modular reactors are water intensive sectors poised to rapidly expand, presenting a significant challenge to the water-for-energy nexus. The potential for large-scal...

Catalano, A., Duan, Z., Quimby, C., Wang, T., Chini, C., Premathilake, L., and Pope, J.

Water Energy Planning Strategies to meet Emerging Load from Data Centers

This white paper discusses the urgent need for innovative management of energy and water resources in the context of rapidly growing data centers, particularly as U.S. electricity demand is projected to increase by 35 to 40% by 2040 due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)....

Bhowmik, P., Cafferty, K., Klise, K., and Jackson, N.

Reliable Water Resources for Resilient Next-Generation Geothermal Energy

This white paper focuses on expanding reclaimed wastewater for geothermal water management. Challenges include rapid growth to 5 GW, rising demand for water in water-scarce regions. High volumes for drilling, stimulation, cooling, and reclaimed water infrastructure limits. High ...

Wu, M.

Supporting adoption of advanced forecast informed reservoir operations tools to improve agricultural and municipal water and energy outcomes

Expanding the use of advanced forecast-informed reservoir operations tools can optimize or improve water delivery and storage for energy generation, irrigation, and municipal uses. Advanced forecast-informed data and tools are increasingly being integrated into large-scale reservo...

Jorgensen, J., Giovando, J., Pracheil, B., Hou, H., and Niazi, H.

Hybrid Bioenergy and Hydropower Systems: Leveraging Heterogeneous Biomass and Wastes from Watersheds

Sandia National Laboratories and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) explore the water-for-energy nexus in this white paper, focusing on the impact of heterogeneous watershed waste materials on hydropower facilities. They identify key challenges--such as pile burning, wildfires, and d...

Quiroz-Arita, C., and Paudel, R.

Advancing Energy-Water Resilience in California: A Framework for Integrated Water and Power Management Opportunities

This white paper identifies opportunities to advance energy-water resilience in California, using the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) system. It addresses the critical intersection of both water for energy and energy for water management, emphasizing how...

Mork, E.

Hardening Forested Watersheds to Wildfire to Enhance Downstream Water Quality for Critical Energy Infrastructure

This white paper focuses on water-for-energy stability, emphasizing the risks to energy infrastructure from water quality impacts due to severely burned forested watersheds. The primary challenge is that energy production in the U.S. is vulnerable to surface water quality, with hi...

Crockett, J., and Krofcheck, D.

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