Key Findings at a Glance

Hydro Industry Challenges

56% of survey respondents believe that the shortage of workers will be the most pressing challenge for the hydro industry in the next 3-5 years. 25% believe that compensation for power and non-power benefits will be the most pressing challenge.

Hydro Workforce of Today & Tomorrow

Almost 80% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied working in the waterpower industry. Approximately 50% of respondents entered the industry through working in a related business. Less than 30% of all respondents entered the industry because they were interested in waterpower. The industry is not doing enough to promote hydro as a career.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Programs

The 2022 Ear to the River survey indicated very low participation in EDI. The results for 2023 were more encouraging, with approximately 80% of NHA respondents noting they have EDI policies in place. OWA’s survey noted that 87% had EDI policies.

Pumped Storage Development

Almost 80% of respondents believe that new pumped storage projects built in the next 10 years will be larger than 500 MW. Survey respondents noted high capital costs of construction, regulatory hurdles, and the market for ancillary services as the greatest obstacles to pumped storage development.

Dam Safety

Over 60% of the industry expects FERC to allow the use of drones and robots to perform detailed inspections in the next 3-5 years though few have proposed these types of inspections. Approximately 50% of U.S. respondents are currently actively assessing the use of robots/automation to replace tasks historically performed by staff.

Hydro Investment

Over 30% of U.S. asset owners responding to the survey expect to spend between $10-50 Million over the next 5 years in refurbishments and upgrades. Release of grant funding is expected to help stimulate more robust investment in this sector in the next several years. Over 70% of survey respondents said that grants were the most important government programs for capital investments.