Water Energy

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Water Energy

Of all renewable energy sources, hydropower holds the largest share of Worldwide Electricity production.

People all around the world have been using water to make electricity for thousands of years.

It is clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable.

Water Flows from a higher elevation to a lower elevation and then they use turbines(different from the wind turbines) and generators to make electricity.

America has been using water to make electricity for more than a hundred years.

About 17% is made from hydropower, making it the largest source of renewable power.

Water evaporates into the clouds and goes back to earth as precipitation.

You can use dams, impoundments, diversions, and pumped storage hydropower.

There are about 80,000 dams in the United States, but less than 3% of the dams generate electricity.

Scientists are trying to make new water dams that don’t harm the environment or the fish.

Scientists made a fish ladder that fish can use to go around the water dams.

One of the first uses of hydroelectric power was for mechanical milling such as grinding grains but today we most commonly use it for electricity which uses a generator and a turbine.

The flowing water turns the turbine that is connected to a rotor which is connected to an electromagnetic generator which produces electricity.

There are two main types of hydroelectric production; dams and run of river.

Dams

Water dams usually have a transformer, a generator, and a turbine.

A dam is a large barrier constructed to raise the level of water and control its flow.

The top part is called the Higher Reservoir.

Some dams have a lower part called the Lower Reservoir.

The reservoirs are where water is stored, waiting for to be used again and again.

Run of River

Run of River uses turbines and generators.

They get water on top of a mountain and lets the water flows.

Only a portion of the water goes through the turbine.

Run of River is more efficient than dams.

Sizes of Hydro Plants

Large Hydro (>30 MW)

Small Hydro (100 KW - 30 MW)

Micro Hydro (<100 KW)

Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam (Large Hydro) is a whopping 2,074 MW structure.

Hoover Dam gives energy to 1.3 Million people.

Benefits

Cost-Competitive even though the building part may be expensive

Quite reliable

Base-Load power (that means it works well with different energy sources.

Sometimes it can help with flood control

Big Water supply

Concerns

Has a major impact on the environment and wildlife habitats, blocking fish passage and often forcing people on roadside communities to move out of their homes.

Dam Failures can be catastrophic, claiming the lives of those living downstream.

Hydro Plants are not completely free of CO2 because of the large quantities of cement used.

If plants decay underwater for a very long time, they produce methane.