Non-Powered Dam Custom Analysis and Taxonomy (NPDamCAT) Framework

Abstract

Characteristic: a feature or quality used to identify or describe something.Classify: to divide things into groups according to a defined characteristic.Class or category: a group into which something is divided according to a defined characteristic.Clustering: the process of grouping things based on similar characteristics, typically via statistical analysis (e.g., k-means clustering).Dam: an artificial barrier that has the ability to impound water, wastewater, or any liquid-borne material, for the purpose of storage or control (FEMA 2004b). Greenfield development: new hydropower developments along previously undeveloped waterways (DOE 2016).Hydropower or hydroelectric power: electricity generated by converting the potential energy of water into mechanical energy.Non-powered dam: dams that do not have any electricity generation equipment installed (DOE 2021) or were previously equipped to generate power (mechanical or electrical), but are no longer operational. Taxonomy: the science or technique of classification.Value: numerical or categorical information. For example, the characteristic of age for a particular dam has a numerical value, measured in years while the characteristic of federal regulatory authority is categorical and have a value of the name of a federal agency.Variable: the quantitative or qualitative measure used to describe a characteristic. For example, the characteristic of size could be described by several variables, such as height, length, surface area, and volume.

NPD Classification Tools – User Guide NPD Explorer and NPDamCAT Apps

“…A diagram shows the five main steps to build a custom taxonomy of NPDs. These steps mirror the five steps outlined in the Non-Powered Dam Custom Analysis and Taxonomy Framework report [3].…”

Hydropower Potential at Non-Powered Dams: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Tool Based on Grid, Community, Industry, and Environmental Impacts

“…There is a relatively large amount of untapped potential to increase the amount of hydropower energy generated by powering non-powered dams (NPDs) in the United States. Considering that only 3% of the nation's dams (~80,000 total) are powered (Fitzgerald, 2022), and the largest costs of hydropower development typically come from the construction of the dam, NPDs offer a significant opportunity for renewable energy deployment, considering that even just the top 500 potential sites for conversion have over 8200 MW of aggregate potential capacity (Hansen et al, 2022). As of 2019, 93% of the proposed hydropower capacity in the United States came from powering NPDs and expanding existing powered facilities (Uria-Martinez et al, 2021).…”