Advantages of Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectric energy (hydroelectric power) is a form of energy that utilises the power of moving water. One of the most common examples is electricity generated from water flowing from a waterfall. For centuries, people have used this power to do countless mechanical works. Ancient civilisations have used water power to rotate the wheels of mills to ground food grains into powdered forms. Hydropower methods produce power by utilising the elevation difference created by a diversion structure or dam. In most cases, water current flows in one side and out on the other side. Almost every hydroelectric power plant possesses a large water reservoir, a valve or gate to regulate the water flow in the system, and a vent where the water flows downward at the end. Water acquires potential energy right before it flows down a hill or spills over the dam’s top side. Here, the potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy as water streams travel downhill. This energetic stream of water is used to rotate the blades of a turbine to produce electricity. The acquired electricity is shared with the users of the power plants.

Importance of Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectric energy is the most widely used renewable electricity source. China, Brazil, the United States, India, Russia, and Canada are the major players in the hydroelectric energy sectors. China is the biggest producer of hydroelectric energy in the world. Around 71% of the entire renewable electricity produced on the Earth comes from hydropower. Hydropower has been identified and utilised for thousands of years. Apart from being an affordable and clean source of energy, hydropower plants can lend power to the power grids immediately, acting as a reliable and flexible backup power source during large-scale electrical energy disruptions or outages. Hydropower plants also have other benefits, such as irrigation support, water supply, and flood control.

The video explains the fundamentals of hydropower plants

Cheapest Energy Source

Hydroelectric energy is the cheapest energy source, even though the initial cost required to build such a power plant is very high. It is indeed the most affordable energy source in the medium to long term run. After the construction of the stations and dams is completed, relatively, they need only low-cost maintenance compared to the initial building costs. Implementing the latest electronic improvements may drive the costs further up. But in terms of enhancing efficiency and waste reduction, such improvements only boost the overall results of the system, ultimately enabling us to produce more electricity with less effort and time.

Enormous Power

The potential energy inside hydropower plants is enormous. Huge masses of water in high altitudes have a large amount of gravitational potential energy, and even utilising just a fraction of it provides ample power. The largest power plants in the world are hydroelectric plants. A single hydropower station can produce energy for millions of people.

Low Emissions

In the early times of hydroelectric power, a controversy was ignited over whether hydropower could certifiably be appraised as a completely green energy source. This was fueled by the fact that organic remnants that disintegrate or decompose in the power plant reservoirs could be a source of methane (a greenhouse gas). Fortunately, this controversy did stand the test of time as a series of scientific studies concluded that hydropower is much cleaner than fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources. In fact, emissions are negligible and entirely absent in most modern hydropower plants.

Flood Protection and Water Supply

Water is stored in huge reservoirs. Apart from power generation, these reservoirs help to keep away floods. It also enables drain wetlands where stagnant bodies of water exist. The volume and flow of water released can be regulated precisely. It is possible to adjust the water flow according to the weather conditions. During heavy rain, extra water can be stored in the reservoirs. The stored water can be distributed into dry regions during drought or dry seasons. They can act as a backup for dry seasons when water becomes scarce. This is crucial for regions where there are extreme season patterns with both intense summer and rainy seasons. The opening of these reservoirs and dams can also be preplanned and calibrated according to the crop cycles and ecological conditions. In some reservoirs, numerous endangered fishes are being maintained. This shows how these reservoirs can be utilised apart from the conventional ways.

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