Hydroelectric power harnesses the gravitational potential energy of flowing or falling water to generate electricity. It works by water turning turbines that are connected to generators. There are several types including dams, pumped storage, and run-of-river. Hydroelectricity provides flexible, renewable energy but depends on consistent water flow and can disrupt wildlife. While having low operating costs, hydroelectric plants can cause environmental damage if not properly maintained.

1. Hydroelectric Energy
By L. Luetge

2. Hydroelectric power is the term colloquially
used to describe the process of harnessing the
gravitational potential energy associated with
flowing or falling water.

3. • Hydroelectric Energy generation occurs when
flowing water turns a turbine, which produces
electricity. There are several subsets of
hydroelectricity generation…
– The most conventional, and recognizable, is the dam
method. This is where water stored in a reservoir flows
through a dam and falls into a river below.
– The pumped storage method is where water is allowed to
flow between two different reservoirs with different
heights.
– Run-of-the-river energy generation is when there is little
water storage capacity.

6. • Hydroelectric energy generation depends, of
course, on lots of water. The river or lake that
is used must have a large capacity and flow
rate. This restricts the number of areas that
can generate, and many good areas in the
South West are already taken.

7. • Hydroelectricity generated 3,427 Terawatt hours of
power in 2010, which makes it the most widely used
renewable resource at 16 percent of global energy
production.
• Hydroelectricity needs very little maintenance, so has
the smallest operation costs.
• Hydro has the most ‘flexibility’ of all types of energy
generation, the flow can be adjusted very quickly to
accommodate fluctuations in demand.
• Hydro plants emit no waste and very, very few
greenhouse gases as compared to coal plants.
• The reservoir created by the dams can provide
ecological habitats or recreational areas for the public.

8. Sayano Shushenkaya hydro plant in
Siberia, on 16 August 2009. 75 people
drowned or were lost, oil poured into
• Most of the sites that could support a plant are
the river and use- there Russia’s energy for
currently in 10% of are very few good spots
generation.
supply was cut off.
• The water flow and new reservoir disturbs wildlife, is
very expensive to build, and usually messes with water
supplies downstream.
• The system is very dependent on rainfall. No rain, no
energy.
• A lot of people underestimate the power of water.
When accidents at hydroelectric power plants occur,
they are very damaging. The remedy is very simple-
properly maintaining the dam and generators.

10. • There are currently 6 hydroelectric power
plants in Texas: The Denison Dam, Falcon
Dam, Mansfield, Morris Shepphard Dam, Tom
Miller and Wirtz Dams.

11. • Hydro plants are in 34 of the 50 states spread out
over 2400 dams. This puts America in 4th place
for generation, behind China, Canada and Brazil.
In 2008, hydro power produced 66.8% of all US
renewable energy, and is still growing. 30
countries utilize hydropower and although it
doesn’t generate much power, 99% of Norway is
powered with this type of energy.

13. References
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity
• http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/energy/hydroelectricity/hydroelectric-
complex/cross-section-hydroelectric-power-plant.jpg
• http://www.energyeducation.tx.gov/renewables/section_2/topics/texas_hydropower/c
.html
• http://www.visitingdc.com/las-vegas/hoover-dam-directions.asp
• http://cosscience1.pbworks.com/w/page/26105284/Lesson%2011-02%20-
%20Solar%20Energy
• http://typesofrenewable-energy.com/hydroelectric-energy/
• http://infrascapedesign.wordpress.com/tag/water-energy-nexus/
• http://www.nobelkepu.org.cn/forume/innovation/133422.shtml
• http://www.gwpc.org/programs/water-energy
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pumpstor_racoon_mtn.jpg
• http://eandt.theiet.org/magazine/2011/07/siberia-hydro-disaster.cfm
• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VyTCyizqrHs/TQZxybGCnkI/AAAAAAAAJzU/EjdSY36Ycxk/s16
00/worldhydro.JPG
• http://www.statisticbrain.com/hydropower-statistics/