Hydropower continues to play a critical role in supporting the U.S. electric grid, providing nearly 6% of utility-scale generation and the vast majority of long-duration energy storage. But until the launch of the U.S. Hydropower Market Report (HMR) in 2015, there was no centralized, regularly updated source of information on the status and direction of the U.S. hydropower fleet.
Compiled by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the HMR has become a trusted resource for policymakers, developers, researchers, and utilities. With more than a decade of collected data and ongoing annual updates, the report provides essential insights for a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
What’s New in the HMR
The Hydropower Market Report Update, released in October 2024, builds on the previous year’s full report with refreshed datasets, updated maps, and a major new addition: a domestic supply chain dataset for key hydropower components.
This first-of-its-kind resource identifies U.S.-based manufacturers of items such as turbines, valves, governors, switchgear, gates, and transformers. By improving supply chain visibility, the update helps project developers and plant operators reduce lead times and costs while supporting compliance with domestic component goals.
Additional highlights from the 2024 update include:
- Updated project pipeline data, including maps of proposed new hydropower and pumped storage projects
- New import/export metrics for U.S. hydraulic turbines
- Lifecycle tracking, including status updates on relicensing and license surrender activity
- Policy updates relevant to hydropower development and operations
The 2024 update provides in-depth information on supply chains, facility locations and lifecycles, and much more.
A Tool for Decision-Making
Produced using a combination of public and commercial data sources, the HMR provides a detailed look at hydropower activities throughout the plant lifecycle—from permitting and construction to operations and decommissioning. The report informs strategic planning and R&D investment by DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office and supports informed decision-making across the broader water power community.
Where to Explore
Visual summary of development activity, fleet performance trends, and the new domestic manufacturing dataset.
Companion spreadsheet with detailed metrics, maps, and lifecycle tracking data.