Spotlight |
Hydropower levels up
Argonne and NREL have launched the Hydropower Market Game, an interactive simulation that turns real-world hydropower operations and market dynamics into an engaging learning tool – inspiring the next generation of engineers while helping industry professionals reimagine the role of hydropower in a renewable grid
THE HYDROPOWER SECTOR HAS long been the backbone of renewable generation in the US, providing reliable, dispatchable power and critical grid services. Yet despite its foundational role, the field faces a growing challenge: an aging workforce and declining visibility among the next generation of energy professionals. Recognising this gap, researchers at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), funded by the US Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), have developed an innovative new tool designed to bring hydropower’s complexity to life in an engaging, interactive format. The result is the Hydropower Market Game, a beta-stage simulation that challenges players to operate virtual hydropower plants, balance competing operational priorities, and navigate dynamic market conditions – all while maintaining environmental and system reliability constraints. Combining accurate system modelling with intuitive gameplay, the tool is the first of its kind to illustrate how hydropower functions in real-time grid operations and markets. “This interactive game lets players explore how
hydropower works, make operational decisions, and manage water,” said Dr. Quentin Ploussard, PhD, a researcher at Argonne Nation-al Laboratory and project manager for the Hydropower Market Game. “It’s designed as both an educational tool and a fun way to engage with real-world energy challenges.”
Aging workforce and an educational gap The idea for the Hydropower Market Game, Ploussard
explained, grew out of both professional observation and personal experience. When he attended his first hydropower conference seven years ago, he noticed that most attendees were in their 50s or older – a demographic reality that underscored the urgency of attracting younger talent. “I realised that while hydropower is essential to our
energy future, it’s been overlooked for decades,” he said. “Even in my own engineering education – in
10 | November 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
electrical and power systems – I never had a single course on hydropower. That gap really stuck with me.” When the WPTO announced a 2024 “seedling” funding call for innovative, small-budget ideas, Ploussard and his team saw their opportunity. “We’d been talking about doing something interactive for years,” he said. “The seedling call finally gave us the right door to walk through. We decided: let’s do it, let’s make hydropower engaging again.”
How the game works From the outset, the challenge was clear: balance
realism with playability. Hydropower operations are inherently complex, influenced by inflows, reservoir levels, environmental flow requirements, market prices, and system constraints. To communicate that complexity in an accessible way, the team structured the game around progressive levels that mirror increasing operational and conceptual sophistication. Players begin with a run-of-river plant, learning the fundamental relationship between flow and power generation. “That level introduces the core hydropower equation in its simplest form – more flow equals more power,” Ploussard explained. As players advance, they encounter reservoir
storage plants, where the hydraulic head becomes a key variable. “It helps players understand that production depends not only on flow but also on head,” said Ploussard. “It’s an intuitive way to learn the physics that underpin our industry.” The next level introduces pumped storage
hydropower, illustrating the system’s dual role as both a generator and an energy storage resource. Players learn how water can be moved uphill during periods of low demand and released later to meet peak loads, effectively operating as a giant water battery. This stage also highlights hydropower’s essential role in grid flexibility and reliability, particularly as variable renewable resources like wind and solar grow. “Flexibility is a central theme,” Ploussard said. “Players see firsthand how dispatchable hydropower
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