GE VERNOVA ADVANCED RESEARCH (GEVAR, PRIME), GE VERNOVA’S HYDRO POWER (GEVH), PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LAB (PNNL) AND UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (USBR) PROPOSE TO DEVELOP DURABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE POLYMER BASED ADD-ONS TO INCREASE THE OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY OF THE FRANCIS RUNNER BASED HYDRO POWER FLEET (~45GW, 50% OF US FLEET). THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE RAMPING CAPABILITIES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FRANCIS MACHINES, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO BE THE LEAST FLEXIBLE HYDRO UNITS.