HydropowerHydropower

Casey and LaurenCasey and Lauren

What Can This Type of Energy What Can This Type of Energy Be Used For?Be Used For?

• Generates / Produces Electricity.Generates / Produces Electricity.

What is the Renewability of What is the Renewability of this Type of Energy/Resource?this Type of Energy/Resource?

• Water is a Renewable source, Water is a Renewable source, however the amount of water is however the amount of water is being reduced at a dangerous being reduced at a dangerous rate by human activity.rate by human activity.

• If the hydropower plants could If the hydropower plants could be used near the oceans and be used near the oceans and used saltwater as well as used saltwater as well as freshwater more energy would freshwater more energy would be able to be produced for a be able to be produced for a longer amount of time.longer amount of time.

What is the Cost of Using this What is the Cost of Using this Type of Energy/Resource?Type of Energy/Resource?

• The Average cost of building a hydropower plant The Average cost of building a hydropower plant is $2,000 per Kilowatt.is $2,000 per Kilowatt.

• The average size of a plant is 125 KW.The average size of a plant is 125 KW.• Concluding that the average cost would be Concluding that the average cost would be

around $ 250,000.around $ 250,000.• However, hydropower costs as little as one-tenth However, hydropower costs as little as one-tenth

of the cost of a photovoltaic (solar-power) system of the cost of a photovoltaic (solar-power) system that is producing the same amount of energy.that is producing the same amount of energy.

• Hydropower is the most efficient way to produce Hydropower is the most efficient way to produce energy and can convert as much as 90% into energy and can convert as much as 90% into electricity where as fossil fuels are only 50% electricity where as fossil fuels are only 50% efficient.efficient.

What are the positive aspects What are the positive aspects of using this resource/type of of using this resource/type of energy? energy?

• Hydropower is almost free due to the Hydropower is almost free due to the averaging out of the amount of averaging out of the amount of energy received with the cost of energy received with the cost of building the plant.building the plant.

• Produces virtually no waste and little Produces virtually no waste and little pollution.pollution.

What are the negative aspects What are the negative aspects of using this resource/type of of using this resource/type of energy? energy?

• Hydropower, however, can alter the Hydropower, however, can alter the surrounding environment. For example, surrounding environment. For example, the impact on the migration of fish.the impact on the migration of fish.

• Also, there is an impact on water quality Also, there is an impact on water quality and flow. This is due to the fact that the and flow. This is due to the fact that the hydropower plants cause low dissolved hydropower plants cause low dissolved oxygen levels in the water.oxygen levels in the water.

When is the energy/resource When is the energy/resource expected to be easily accessible to expected to be easily accessible to the general public?the general public?

• Hydropower has been available in the United Hydropower has been available in the United States since 1880.States since 1880.

• It has been a popular form of energy-It has been a popular form of energy-generation for the past century.generation for the past century.

Where is it currently being Where is it currently being used (both US and worldwide) used (both US and worldwide) and to what degree? and to what degree? • Projects are being planned in China, Projects are being planned in China,

New Zealand, South Korea, India New Zealand, South Korea, India (7400 kw), Britain (8,600), Russia (7400 kw), Britain (8,600), Russia (10,000).(10,000).

How does this energy/resource affect How does this energy/resource affect carbon emissions, carbon sources, carbon emissions, carbon sources,

carbon sinks, and climate function?carbon sinks, and climate function?

• Due to the fact that hydropower Due to the fact that hydropower must have reservoirs, some must have reservoirs, some greenhouse gases come from the greenhouse gases come from the reservoirs. However, the greenhouse reservoirs. However, the greenhouse gases that are produced represent gases that are produced represent the gases already apparent in the the gases already apparent in the carbon cycle.carbon cycle.

Where Plants Are Located.Where Plants Are Located.

Parts of A Hydropower Parts of A Hydropower Plant.Plant.• Dam.Dam. Raises the water level of the river to Raises the water level of the river to

create falling water. Also controls the flow of create falling water. Also controls the flow of water. The reservoir that is formed is, in water. The reservoir that is formed is, in effect, stored energy. effect, stored energy.

• Turbine.Turbine. The force of falling water pushing The force of falling water pushing against the turbine's blades causes the against the turbine's blades causes the turbine to spin. A water turbine is much like turbine to spin. A water turbine is much like a windmill, except the energy is provided by a windmill, except the energy is provided by falling water instead of wind. The turbine falling water instead of wind. The turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. into mechanical energy.

• Generator.Generator. Connected to the turbine by Connected to the turbine by shafts and possibly gears so when the shafts and possibly gears so when the turbine spins it causes the generator to spin turbine spins it causes the generator to spin also. Converts the mechanical energy from also. Converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electric energy. Generators the turbine into electric energy. Generators in hydropower plants work just like the in hydropower plants work just like the generators in other types of power plants. generators in other types of power plants.

• Transmission linesTransmission lines. Conduct electricity . Conduct electricity from the hydropower plant to homes and from the hydropower plant to homes and business. business.

How A Hydropower Plant How A Hydropower Plant Works.Works.

Hydropower in the United Hydropower in the United States.States.

FactsFacts

• Hydropower accounts for 6% of the total US Hydropower accounts for 6% of the total US electricity generation and 71% of generation from electricity generation and 71% of generation from renewables in 2007renewables in 2007

• It’s one of the oldest sources of energy’It’s one of the oldest sources of energy’• Worldwide, about 20% of electricity is generated Worldwide, about 20% of electricity is generated

by hydropowerby hydropower• US is the 2US is the 2ndnd largest producer (Canada is the 1 largest producer (Canada is the 1stst))• Hydropower does not produce GHGs or other Hydropower does not produce GHGs or other

types of air pollutiontypes of air pollution• It prevents the burning of 22 billion gallons of oil, It prevents the burning of 22 billion gallons of oil,

or 120 million tons of coal each yearor 120 million tons of coal each year

SourcesSources

• Miller LiteMiller Lite• Plan B 3.0Plan B 3.0• www.Wikipedia.comwww.Wikipedia.com• www.niwa.cri.nz/pubs/wa/ma/13-4/hywww.niwa.cri.nz/pubs/wa/ma/13-4/hy

dropowerdropower• www.wvic.com/hydro-works.htmwww.wvic.com/hydro-works.htm• www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/

sources/renewable/water.htmlsources/renewable/water.html