Hydroelectricity

By: Joshua Mihai, Kandalynn Naidl, and

Jeffrey Bazzini
 What is hydroelectricity? How is it generated?

Hydroelectricity is both an inexhaustible and renewable resource.

Inexhaustible resources occur naturally within nature, and are
unlimited(Inexhaustible resources, 2017).
http://inexhaustibleresources.org/category/inexhaustible-resources/page/4/

Water is captured using dams, channeled through penstock, to turn a rotor in

a turbine converting kinetic energy to mechanical energy. A generator
converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy; this is then conducted
through power lines.

http://www.siemens.co.uk/en/news_press/index/news_archive
/seagen-achieves-5gw-tidal-power-generation-milestone.htm
Tidal stream power systems take advantage of ocean currents to drive
turbines, particularly off coasts, or where these currents are fast. Tides are
much more predictable compared to wind and sun.
Requirements and Future of hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric power plants require:

A dam (raise water level, often stores drinking water) http://earth.rice.edu/mtpe/geo/geosphere/hot/energyfuture/hydroelectricity.html

The amount of electricity generated depends on the volume of water and the height of the water above the turbine.

Turbines (converts kinetic energy to mechanical energy)

Generator (collect the mechanical energy and convert it to electrical energy)
Transmission and power lines (conduct energy to homes and businesses)

1.3 billion people in the world do not have electricity.

A new hydroelectricity invention by canadian designers called, "Waterotor",
is a turbine that can convert currents as slow as 2 mph, into energy. This
turbine could be used in almost any river, canal, or ocean current.
 http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/tech/innovation/scotland-underwater-turbines/index.html

Facts about hydroelectricity

China produces the most hydroelectric power, 856.4 billion kilowatt hours a year.

While hydro plants can have very large capacities for water, the amount of electricity they
generate depends on rainfall and electricity demand, therefore the market .

Hydroelectricity does not consume any water, all water is returned to the river or ocean after
use. The first hydroelectric power plant began in 1882, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Hydroelectric power is a function of height and volume

Tidal turbines can be placed on the sea bed (strongest tidal flow). Water is about 800 times
denser than air; compared to wind turbines, tidal turbines are much sturdier and heavier.

Tidal turbines are more expensive to build than wind turbines, but produce more mechanical
energy with a smaller size blade.

Many countries have started to create energy

efficiency goals by 2020.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/eu-countries-rene
wable-goals-20021
Are there downsides?

Although hydroelectricity is reliable, renewable, and does not produce pollution, some types of machines
used to produce mechanical energy may:

Change tidal level of surrounding area

Impact fish, marine mammals or birds
Disrupt regular tidal cycles
Decreases salinity in tidal basins

Over all more mechanisms need to be designed and evaluated to work efficiently and effectively to
create hydropower, without a causing a negative impact on the environment.
Works Cited:
Ferguson, Fred. Renewable Energy Solutions. Waterotor Energy Technologies,
http://waterotor.com/
How Hydropower Works, Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company, 2017,
http://www.wvic.com/Content/How_Hydropower_Works.cfm
Hydroelectricity. Clean Energy Council, 2017,
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/technologies/hydroelectricity.html
Hydroelectric power how it works. USGS Science for an Ever Changing World, 2 Dec. 2016,
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.html
Hydroelectric Power Water Use. USGS Science for an Ever Changing World, 2 Dec. 2016,
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html
Renewable UK. Offshore Wind, 26 Feb. 2014,
http://www.offshorewind.biz/2014/02/26/renewableuk-wave-tidal-energy-industry-offer-huge-economic-benefits/
Selin, Noelle Eckley. Tidal Power. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 26 Apr. 2016,
www.britannica.com/science/tidal-power.
Tidal Power. Tidal Power - Energy Explained, Us Energy Information Administration, 22 Mar. 2017
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=hydropower_tidal