US engineers build 3D-printed turbines for 29 GW untapped hydropower

US engineers build 3D-printed turbines for 29 GW untapped hydropower

Researchers in the US have recently developed a 3D-printed turbine system that could make small hydropower plants cheaper, faster, and easier to deploy across existing dams. For the initiative, Cadens, a Wisconsin-based startup that specializes in low-cost, high-efficiency turbines, partnered with the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee.  The engineers developed durable 3D-printed turbines an…

3D Printed Turbines Could Unlock America’s Hidden Hydropower Network 3D Printed Turbines Could Unlock America’s Hidden Hydropower Network

3D Printed Turbines Could Unlock America’s Hidden Hydropower Network America’s ageing dam network may be sitting on one of the country’s most overlooked renewable energy opportunities. While solar farms and wind projects continue to dominate headlines and investment strategies, thousands of existing dams across the United States remain largely unused for electricity generation despite holding substantial untapped hydropower potential. The number…