HYDROELECTRIC POWER

Primary Users

ADVANTAGES

• Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.
• If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut, stopping electricity generation.
• Dams are designed to last many decades and so can contribute to the long life of electricity
• Electricity produced by dam systems do not produce green house gases. They do not pollute the atmosphere.
• The lake's water can be used for irrigation purposes.

Disadvantages

• Dams are extremely expensive to build and must be built to a very high standard.
• People living in towns that are in the valley to be flooded, must move out.
• The building of large dams can cause serious geological damage.
• The high costs means that they must operate for many decades to become profitable.
• Building a large dam alters the natural water table level.

~ELECTRICITY~
The Bureau of Reclamation's generators in the United States range in size from 350 kilowatts (kW) to 805,000 kW.

EROEI of hydroelectric production was calculated to be about 100.

In 2003, total hydropower capacity in the United States was 96,000 MW

Canada installed hydroelectric capacity of 67,000 MW (mega watts)

Recent Trends

EFFICIENCY

DIAGRAM

WORKS CITED

• Administration, Energy Information. "Hydroelectricity Consumption Statistics."NationMaster.com. NationMaster, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.
• "Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower." Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
• "Energy Source: Hydropower." Energy Source: Hydropower | Renewable Energy & Efficiency | Pembina Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2014.
• "How Much Power Is Created from One Generator in One Day?How Many Houses Can This Provide Power To?" How Much Power Is Created from One Generator in One Day? How Many Houses Can This Provide Power To? N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.
• Hydroelectric Power: How It Works." Hydroelectric Power: How It Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.