Hydroelectric Energy

Renewable resource

• Hydropower is a renewable source of energy which uses the force or energy of moving water to generate power.

Methods of Extraction

• Water must be moving to extract energy
• Any moving water can produce hydropower. Add more moving water, or Flow, and you can produce more power.
• The pressure of the water causes turbines to turn which creates energy.

Electrical Generation

• The force and pressure of moving water cause a turbine within the dam
• The movement of these turbines creates electrical power

Resources used

• The only resource required to acquire hydroelectric power is moving water

Description of Energy Generation from Source:

• A hydroelectric power station converts the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water into electrical energy that can be used in homes and businesses
• Hydroelectric power can be generated on a small scale with a ‘run-of-river’ installation

Pollutants created

• Hydroelectric power creates methane which has a much higher impact on the environment compared to CO2.

benefits

• Fuel is not burned so there is minimal pollution
• Water to run the power plant is provided free by nature
• Relatively low operations and maintenance costs
• It's renewable - rainfall renews the water in the reservoir, so the fuel is almost always there

Limitations

• Dams are expensive to build
• Construction of large dams can cause serious geological damage
• People living in villages that are in valleys can be flooded
• Old dams that are still in use can give in do to the weight of the water in the lake or river

Sources

• https://www.edfenergy.com/future-energy/energy-mix/hydro
• http://www.whyhydropower.com/HydroTour1.html
• http://water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html