Hydropower from Water Supply Dams

Key Takeaways If the surrounding environment supports it, a dam could offer the opportunity to generate hydroelectricity. Critical information for selecting a hydropower dam site includes hydrologic and hydraulic characteristics, the structural layout of the dam, and streamflow ranges. If there isn’t a local power user (likely the utility itself), then a grid interconnection may be needed, which increases costs. Credits and grants can help offset the costs of implementing hydropower.