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Hydropower is the energy we make with moving water. Any steady current of water from a river, waterfall, or waterway can be converted into energy.
What is hydropower?
Hydropower (or hydroelectric power) is electricity made by flowing water, usually at dams.
How does hydropower work?
Hydropower is generated when flowing water turns turbines to run generators that convert energy into electricity. Most hydropower projects use a dam and a reservoir to retain water from a river. When the dam gates are opened, water flows through a pipe and applies pressure to turbines that power generators to produce electricity. Other hydropower plant projects do not require dams. Instead, the force of the river current that is diverted into canals or pipes applies pressure to the turbine blades to produce electricity.
History of hydropower
Greeks used water wheels to grinding wheat into flour more than 2,000 years ago. Falling water has been used to create electricity for more than a century. Read more.
Uses for hydropower
The most popular use for hydropower today is in generating electricity. It is also used to power machinery.
Demand for hydropower
Globally, hydropower supplies nearly 1/5 of the world’s energy each year, making it the most commonly used renewable energy source. Hydroelectric power generates more electricity worldwide than solar, wind, biomass, and all other renewable sources combined. Renewable energy sources currently produce 6% of the world’s energy. (Source: World Energy Council, 2007 Survey of Energy Resources.) |
Hydropower pros and cons
Pros
- No emissions
- Reliable
- Capable of generating large amounts of power
- Output can be regulated to meet demand
Cons
- More expensive to produce than fossil fuel systems
- Currently uses large amounts of fossil fuels in the hydrogen extraction process
- Storage/fuel cell technology still being developed
More hydropower resources
Energy Kids Page - Illustrates how hydroelectric energy works, where it is generated, and how it is used.
Hydropower Basics -
Learn the basics about how hydropower
works, its advantages and disadvantages, its use throughout history and resource potential. |
