About Water Power Technologies Office

About Water Power Technologies Office

Aerial view of the Ocean Energy Buoy (OE Buoy) docked on Ford Island, Hawaii. The OE Buoy absorbs energy from ocean waves to generate green, sustainable electricity. (Photo by Joshua Bauer / NREL)

The mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is to enable research, development, and testing of new technologies to advance marine energy as well as next-generation hydropower and pumped storage systems for a flexible, reliable grid.

What We Do at the Water Power Technologies Office

To reduce marine energy costs and fully leverage hydropower’s contribution to the grid, WPTO invests in research and technology design; validates performance and reliability for new technologies; develops and enables access to necessary testing infrastructure; and disseminates objective information and data for technology developers and decision makers.

WPTO’s work directly supports EERE’s strategic objectives of increasing the Nation’s energy affordability, integration, and storage capabilities. This, in turn, supports DOE’s mission to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. WPTO consists of two R&D programs: the Marine Energy Program and the Hydropower Program.

More information about WPTO can be found on the About the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) page.