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Renewable Energy Hydroelectric

Moving water creates energy. This energy is captured and turned into hydroelectric energy. Also known as hydropower, it is responsible for the electric supply of complete cities and countries.

A hydropower plant is usually a dam built on a river. The water is stored in a reservoir. When the water is released from the reservoir, it is made to flow through a turbine. The flowing water spins the turbine, which in turn is attached to a generator that produces electricity. Some hydroelectric plants use only a canal to channel the flow of river water which in turn spins the turbine. A pumped storage plant is yet another kind of hydroelectric power plant. Such a power plant can also store power. From a power grid, power is sent to electric generators. These generators make the turbine spin backwards. The turbines then pump water from the river to an upper reservoir. The power is stored in this reservoir. When the power needs to be used, the water is released from the upper reservoir into the river again. This time around the turbines spin forwards and the generators thus activated produce electricity. 

Hydroelectric power is a renewable source of energy. Hydropower is a convenient source of power as the release of power can be fluctuated according to demand. The dam’s gates can be opened or shut as required. Usually, the production of hydropower is slowed down at night when people tend to use less power. Hydropower is a constant source of electricity. As long as water remains available, the power plant keeps running. It is also efficient and relatively inexpensive. The turbines convert 90% of the available energy into power. Compare this with most fossil fuels which convert only 50% of the available energy. Moreover, efficiency of hydropower plants can be increased by using better equipment. An additional 1% efficiency will mean power to 300,000 more houses. Hydro electric power plants do not cause environmental pollution.

Hydropower does have some disadvantages too. The construction of a dam has many adverse effects on the flora and fauna of the region. Birds migrate and fish become endangered. Flooding is another major disadvantage. Flooding submerges large forests releasing methane.  Construction of dam affects the earth’s tectonic system leading to earthquakes. Further, hydropower can only be used in those areas with a continuous water supply.  When compared to wind and solar energy, hydropower has many demerits. Not paying heed to these demerits can be detrimental to the environment and ultimately to human life.

 

 

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