Hydropower

Hydropower is a renewable energy source that uses the potential energy of moving or falling water to harvest energy. It's mostly used to generate electricity.

 

When electricity is generated through hydropower, two dams are usually built at a hydro-electrical plant: one on a higher level and one on a lower level. The dam at the top is used to hold back the water. When the gates open, the water flows through a pipeline that leads to a turbine, otherwise known as a penstock. As the water flows through the pipe, pressure builds up. Water hits and turns the blades of the turbine that are attached to a shaft. The shaft is then connected to a generator above. A series of magnets inside the generator turn as the blades do. The magnets rotate past copper coils, which produces an alternating current (electricity).

 

Apart from the turbines, there's a power central that converts the alternating current to a high-voltage current. Four power lines come out of the power plant and carry the power to other areas. After being used, water is pumped back to the dam at the top via pipelines. The volume of water plays a big role in how much electricity is generated.

 

 

Hydropower is renewable and clean. Here's the best bit: It doesn't produce any pollution. When it comes to electricity, hydro-electric plants can be used if there's a sudden demand for electricity and can produce it quickly. It's even possible that hydropower can be used to provide the entire world without polluting.

 

The main catch with hydro electricity is the dam at the power plant. Firstly, it’s very expensive to construct the dam, considering that it should be of the highest standards. Secondly, you can’t build a dam overnight. We’re talking about years, even decades, if the dam is to be constructed properly.

 

Of course, location is also very important. Not all areas have the water resources or space needed to build a dam. Imagine building a hydroelectric power plant in the Sahara Desert!

 

Sometimes, hydro-electric power schemes alter the animal and even human environments in a negative way. Hydropower dams can reduce the oxygen levels in the water, making it a threat to life in the water and the surrounding ecosystems. In some cases, many people are forced to move out of an area that is designated for a dam.