Hydroelectricity is a form of hydropower used to produce energy and is a renewable power source. 20% of all electricity is generated by hydropower worldwide.
Hydroelectricity is generated by harnessing the power of moving water. Any steady current of flowing water from a river or waterway can be converted to power. There are many famous generating stations in the world, e.g. Niagara Falls, Grand Coulee and Boulder Dam etc. Hydroelectricity can also be generated on a lesser scale by setting a small mill in the rapids of a fast-moving stream.
On Earth, water is constantly moving around, a process known as the hydrologic cycle. Water evaporates from the oceans, forming into clouds, falling out as rain and snow, gathering into streams and rivers, and flowing back to the sea. All this movement provides an enormous opportunity to harness useful energy.
The United Nations estimates that the total "technically exploitable" potential for hydropower is 15,090 terawatt-hours per year, equal to half of projected global electricity use in 2030. However, only about 15 percent has been developed so far. While much of the remaining potential may not be economically or environmentally suitable to develop, there are still significant opportunities for new development in regions like the former Soviet Union, South Asia, and South America.
Hydropower provides one-fifth of the world's electricity, second only to fossil fuels. When completed, China's Three Gorges Dam is poised to become the largest hydroelectric project in the world with 18.2 GW of capacity. Globally, hydroelectric capacity has more than doubled since 1970, and another 100 GW is currently under construction.
Hydro plants have very long lives; the Grand Coulee dam, for example, has been in operation since 1942. The federal government issues licenses for all dams for a 30- to 50-year period. Re-licensing some of these dams require dam owners to find ways to reduce environmental impacts.
Hydroelectricity is generated by harnessing the power of moving water. Any steady current of flowing water from a river or waterway can be converted to power. There are many famous generating stations in the world, e.g. Niagara Falls, Grand Coulee and Boulder Dam etc. Hydroelectricity can also be generated on a lesser scale by setting a small mill in the rapids of a fast-moving stream.
On Earth, water is constantly moving around, a process known as the hydrologic cycle. Water evaporates from the oceans, forming into clouds, falling out as rain and snow, gathering into streams and rivers, and flowing back to the sea. All this movement provides an enormous opportunity to harness useful energy.
The United Nations estimates that the total "technically exploitable" potential for hydropower is 15,090 terawatt-hours per year, equal to half of projected global electricity use in 2030. However, only about 15 percent has been developed so far. While much of the remaining potential may not be economically or environmentally suitable to develop, there are still significant opportunities for new development in regions like the former Soviet Union, South Asia, and South America.
Hydropower provides one-fifth of the world's electricity, second only to fossil fuels. When completed, China's Three Gorges Dam is poised to become the largest hydroelectric project in the world with 18.2 GW of capacity. Globally, hydroelectric capacity has more than doubled since 1970, and another 100 GW is currently under construction.
Hydro plants have very long lives; the Grand Coulee dam, for example, has been in operation since 1942. The federal government issues licenses for all dams for a 30- to 50-year period. Re-licensing some of these dams require dam owners to find ways to reduce environmental impacts.
No comments:
Post a Comment