Hydroelectric energy is the electrical energy derived from hydro (water) power. It is a non-conventional or alternate source of energy.
How hydroelectric energy is generated?
Before discussing advantages and disadvantages of Hydroelectric power, let�s first understand how a hydroelectric power plant works to understand its merits and demerits better. Flowing water possesses kinetic energy. Traditionally, this energy was used to drive water mills to grind pulses etc. Modern day methods have modified this use for a bigger purpose- generation of electricity. When rain falls on high grounds in hilly areas, it flows down in the form if rivers and reaches the sea level. This water is stopped in between and stored in large reservoirs or damns. The dams are at a height and thus water now contains potential energy. This water is then made to flow to large turbines. The water flows with high speed and pressure and rotates turbines, which in turn generates electricity. The water stream follows its natural course, once out of the generator. This is how a hydroelectric power plant can convert the potential energy of stored water in a reservoir of a tall dam into electric energy.
The main reason for using this form of energy for electricity generation is the fact that it is an alternate source of energy and can bring a relief to the use of conventional energy sources. Other advantages of hydro energy are discussed below.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power uses the energy of moving water to make electricity. Fuel for a hydro plant is renewable and costs nothing. Another benefit is that hydro plants do not affect air quality.
Hydro plants generated 33 percent of the electricity in the US in the 1920s. Today they generate more electricity than 60 years ago, but account for only 13 percent of the US total. The percentage is smaller because total electric generation from other sources has increased over time.
In a hydropower system, dams on a river capture its power and direct the fast-flowing water through turbines and turning generators to produce electricity. The difference between the water levels above and below the turbine and the rate of water flow determine the amount of power generated.
Run-of-the-river plants use the natural flow of the stream. This greatly limits their potential to produce electricity in a controlled manner because the flow usually varies during the year. To avoid this, some dams store water upstream in a reservoir and then release it as needed.
Advantages of Hydroelectric Energy
1) It is a non-polluting source of energy.
2) It has lower operational cost compared to fossil fuel-based generation plants.
3) Can be easily transmitted through wires to long distances.
4) Dams made for generation of Hydroelectricity also help in irrigation projects.
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The largest hydroelectric dam in the world is Rogun in Tajikistan.(11) It stands over 1000 feet tall. Hydroelectric energy is one of many energy sources used in the world. In this report there is going to be information about how hydroelectric energy works, its pros and cons, where dams are built, and more about making electricity form water.
To make electricity this way, the water is held in a reservoir, behind the dam, The water close to the control gates is where the intake is, and when the control gates open, the water rushes through the penstock and turns the turbine. After the water does so, it goes through the outflow into the river. The turbine spins the generator, and the electricity goes to the transformer in the powerhouse. Then the transformer transforms the electricity into a usable form, and the electricity travels through the power lines and goes to homes and businesses.(2)
One more thing that is needed is location. To build a dam there has to be valleys and rivers. This will help with the building of the dam. There has to be great location or it won�t work. The land cannot be flat, or there is no way to build a dam. Canada, USA, the former USSR, Brazil, China, Norway, Japan, Sweden, India, and France all use hydroelectric energy. These countries are in order from the largest number of kilowatts in billions that are used each year.(12)
There are advantages and disadvantages of using hydroelectric energy. Here are some of the advantages. It is renewable, clean, non-polluting, and it prevents floods. Not all dams produce electricity, but they prevent flooding, and others do both.(13)
As said, there are advantages of using hydroelectric energy. There are disadvantages too. Here are some of the disadvantages. Hydroelectric dams can harm many species that live on the area, the land around the dam can be destroyed, and the furious turbines will kill the fish.
As said before, hydroelectric energy is one of many sources of electricity in the world. The future of hydropower is looking like it will still be used in the next century or more, because the world will still have plenty of running water and the need for lots of non-polluting energy.(13)
Sources
1. �Images of Dams�, Dams and Hydroelectric http://www.lcra.org/water/dams.html
2. �The Power of Water� �Simple Beginnings� How Hydropower Plants Work http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydropower-plantf1.htm
3. Where can I lean about hydroelectric dams? �What is a dam and how do they make hydroelectricity? �What is a Dam� Hydroelectric Power (Dams) http://www.ajkids.com
4.�Historical Timeline� Hydropower and Hydroelectricity http://environment.about.com/library/weekly/blrenew6.htm
5. Introduction to Hydropower http://www.nrel.gov/lav/pao/hydroelectric.html
6. �HYDROELECTRIC DAMS: How They Work� Hydroelectric Dams http://waterpower.hypermart.net/hdams.html
7. HydroElectricDams.com http://tempserver.com/hydroelectricdams.html
8. �Powering the World: The Energy that Fuels Us� Think Quest http://library.thinkquest.org/17531/hydro.html
9. �HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER� Energy Fact Sheet http://www.iclei.org/efacts/hydroele.htm
10. How Hydropower Plants Work http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydropower-plant.htm
11. Dam Multimedia http://encarta.msn.com/find/MediaList.asp?pg=6&mod=2&ti=761561327
12. �Energy� FACTS ABOUT HYDROPOWER http://wvic.com?hydro-facts.htm
13. �The future of hydropower� �Advantages of hydropower� �Hydropower�s effects on the environment �http://library.thinkquest.org/17531/hydro.html#future
http://www.webmutations.com/energy/reports/present/rephydro.html
According to the International Hydropower Association�s (IHA) latest available figures Europe has the highest installed capacity of hydroelectric generation in the world. The report says that the EU accounts for about 260 GW of the estimated global total of 860-950 GW of hydro generation.
East-Asia has been the focus of much attention because the region is rapidly developing its hydro resources and is expected to become the region with the greatest level of deployment within the next three years. China, the biggest country in East Asia, now exceeds the United States as the country with the highest installed capacity.
Next to the rapid developments in East Asia, South America is also developing its hydroelectric generation rapidly. In addition, IHA estimates that there are 127 to 150 GW of pumped storage capacity globally, and it is anticipated that the market for pumped storage will increase by 60% over the next five years.
Large hydropower grew modestly in terms of percentage the last few years. While hydro equipment orders slipped in 2009 and 2010 from 2008, pre-orders for 2011 have risen to fuel expectations that average orders for the 2010s will top those in the 2000s, REN-21 believes.
The REN-21 report states that in 2009 a further 31 GW of hydro capacity was added which, compared to other renewable energy sources, was second only to that of wind energy. Total investment in hydropower in that year was around US$40�45 billion.
In developed markets, such as those in Europe � where many hydro plants are 30 or 40 years old � activity has focused on relicensing and repowering, as well as adding generation to existing dams, the report concludes. This trend is clearly supported by the market activity seen in 2009 and 2010, and, several markets, such as Norway, Germany, Austria and Switzerland are emerging as local hotspots.
Source : http://www.tomorrowisgreener.com/hydro-activity-in-the-last-few-years/
The largest project that began operation in 2010 also holds the record as Southeast Asia�s largest hydroelectric power station. The first of six turbines at Vietnam�s Son La station was connected to the national power grid in late December. Officials said that the two-billion-dollar plant with a capacity of 2,400 MW is expected to be fully operational in 2012, three years ahead of a target set by the National Assembly.
The second largest project that went online in 2010 took place in Laos and is that country�s largest plant in history. Laos officially inaugurated the 1,070-MW Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric power project in December. The $1.45 billion project is co-owned by Electricite de France, the Lao government, the Electricity Generating Public Co. of Thailand and Italian-Thai Development. After five years of construction, the plant began supplying neighboring Thailand with power in March of this year.
Next in line was Brazil�s 855-MW Foz do Chapeco hydropower plant, which launched commercial operations at its second of four generating unit in November 2010. The first unit began commercial operation in October. The plant is 51 percent owned by utility group CPFL Energia and sits on the border of southern states Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Alstom supplied the turbines for this project.
Another large project that went online in 2010 is the 460-MW Beles plant in Ethiopia. The project is owned by Ethiopia Electric Power Corporation. It is worth noting that the 300 MW Tekeze Hydropower plant, which also went online in 2010 in Ethiopia, was Power Engineering�s Renewable Project of the Year.
The largest hydro project in North America that went online in 2010 was the Toba Montrose project in British Columbia. After three years of construction, Plutonic Power completed the $663 million Toba-Montrose run-of-river project, the largest source of privately generated renewable power in British Columbia. The 196-MW Toba-Montrose project began selling power to BC Hydro in August. The project includes a 73-MW run-of-river facility on Montrose Creek and a 123-MW facility on the East Toba River. The 123-MW plant on the East Toba River is the largest run-of-river facility in British Columbia.
Source : http://www.tomorrowisgreener.com/biggest-hydro-power-projects-in-2010/
Hydroelectric energy is the electrical energy derived from hydro (water) power. It is a non-conventional or alternate source of energy.
