Beatrice Lang
Hydroelectric devices are used to generate hydroelectricity, also known as hydropower, which is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy. Hydroelectricity is generated by harnessing the natural flow of moving water to turn a turbine, which then turns a metal shaft in an electric generator, producing electricity. Hydroelectricity is a flexible source of electricity as it can be ramped up and down quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. It is also a cost-effective and low-carbon source of electricity, making it a key element for creating secure and clean electricity supply systems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How it works | Water flows through a pipe (penstock) and spins the blades in a turbine, which then spins a generator to produce electricity |
| Sources of water | Rivers, lakes, oceans, and streams |
| Sources of energy | Solar energy |
| Types of hydropower facilities | Run-of-river, tidal, pumped storage, storage, diversion, damless |
| Use cases | Electricity generation, irrigation, flood control, water supply |
| Pros | Renewable, low-carbon, flexible, reliable, affordable, low maintenance, quick start-up time, no direct waste, low greenhouse gas emissions |
| Cons | High upfront costs, potential negative environmental impact during construction |
| Global production in 2022 | 4,289 TWh |
| Global share of electricity in 2023 | 15% |
| US share of electricity generation in 2001-2022 | 6.7% |
| US share of renewable electricity generation in 2019 | 27% |
| US share of total electricity generation | 5.86% |
| Largest hydropower facility in the US | Grand Coulee hydro dam in Washington State |
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What You'll Learn
How hydroelectricity is generated
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower or water power. It is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy, using the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also more than nuclear power.
Hydroelectric power plants are usually located on or near a water source, such as a river or reservoir. The volume of water flow and the change in elevation or fall determine the amount of energy that can be generated. In general, the greater the water flow and the higher the elevation change, the more electricity a hydropower plant can produce.
Hydroelectric power is generated by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water. The kinetic energy of the flowing water is then converted into electricity through the use of turbines and generators. The water flows through a pipe, or penstock, and spins the blades of a turbine, which then spins a generator to produce electricity. This process is similar to how coal-fired power plants produce electricity, with a power source used to turn a propeller-like turbine, which then turns a metal shaft in an electric generator.
Hydroelectric power is a flexible and affordable source of electricity. It can be ramped up and down quickly to adapt to changing energy demands, and it has relatively low maintenance, operation, and fuel costs. Additionally, it produces no direct waste and emits less greenhouse gas than fossil fuel-powered plants.
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Hydropower's flexibility
Hydropower is a flexible source of electricity. It can be ramped up and down quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. Hydropower turbines have a start-up time of just a few minutes, and it takes less than 10 minutes to bring most hydro units from cold start-up to full load. This is much faster than nuclear power and almost all fossil fuels.
Hydropower is also flexible in that it can be used to complement other sources for load following. For example, Switzerland's electric grid pairs nuclear and hydropower in a near 50/50 split. Hydropower is used to supply peak power at a much lower cost than nuclear power. Similarly, Sweden, Ukraine, and Finland also pair the two energy sources.
Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy for producing mechanical and electrical energy. It was first used in the United States in 1880 to power 16 brush-arc lamps at the Wolverine Chair Factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first U.S. hydroelectric power plant opened in 1882. Hydropower facilities come in all sizes, from very large to tiny. They can be damless, with diversions or run-of-river facilities that channel part of a stream through a powerhouse before the water rejoins the main river.
Hydropower is a renewable and cost-effective form of energy. It provides power to the grid immediately and serves as a flexible and reliable form of backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions. Hydropower plants can also provide benefits outside of electricity generation, such as flood control, irrigation support, and water supply.
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Hydropower's affordability
Hydropower is an affordable source of electricity that costs less than most other energy sources. Hydropower relies only on the energy from moving water, so states that get most of their electricity from hydropower, like Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, have lower energy bills than the rest of the US. In 2023, about 60% of Washington's electricity came from hydropower.
Hydropower has relatively low costs in terms of maintenance, operations, and fuel over the duration of a full project. While significant upfront costs are unavoidable, hydropower's longer lifespan spreads these costs out over time. The equipment used at hydropower facilities often operates for longer periods without needing replacements or repairs, saving money in the long term.
The installation costs for large hydropower facilities consist mainly of civil construction works (such as building dams, tunnels, and other infrastructure) and electromechanical equipment costs (electricity-generating machinery). These costs can be minimised at the planning stage by selecting the right location and design.
Hydropower is also flexible, as it can be ramped up and down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. It has a startup time of just a few minutes, and it takes less than 10 minutes to bring most hydro units from a cold start-up to a full load. This is quicker than nuclear power and almost all fossil fuel power. Power generation can also be decreased quickly when there is a surplus.
Hydropower is a renewable and domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce its own energy without relying on international fuel sources. It also has one of the lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for electricity generation.
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Hydroelectricity's environmental impact
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is the generation of electricity from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies almost 15% of the world's electricity, or 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined. Hydropower facilities harness the natural flow of water to generate electricity.
Hydroelectricity has a number of environmental impacts, both positive and negative. On the positive side, hydropower is a renewable and clean source of power that produces no direct waste and emits considerably less greenhouse gas than fossil fuel-powered energy plants. It is also a flexible source of electricity, as it can be ramped up and down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. Hydropower plants can also provide backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions. Additionally, hydropower plants can provide benefits outside of electricity generation, such as flood control, irrigation support, and water supply.
However, there are also several negative environmental impacts associated with hydroelectricity. The construction of large dams requires massive amounts of concrete, a carbon-intensive material, and can release huge amounts of greenhouse gases. The flooding of land for reservoirs can also have extreme environmental impacts, including the destruction of forests, wildlife habitats, agricultural land, and scenic lands. The creation of reservoirs can also obstruct fish migration and change natural water temperatures, water chemistry, river flow characteristics, and silt loads, which can negatively affect native plants and animals.
Some strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of hydropower projects include reestablishing fish migration routes through the use of fish ladders, trap-and-haul systems, and creative solutions like pressurized "salmon cannons". Controlling water release from dams to mimic natural flow patterns can also minimize disruptions to sediment dispersal and water quality. During operations, regularly flushing reservoirs can reduce methane buildup from vegetation decay, and new turbine designs are improving fish survival rates and reducing the use of lubricants that contaminate the water.
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Hydroelectricity's history
Hydroelectricity, also known as hydropower, is one of the oldest sources of renewable energy, using the natural flow of water to generate electricity. Humans have been harnessing water power to perform work for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks used water wheels for grinding wheat into flour, while the Egyptians used Archimedes water screws for irrigation in the third century B.C.
The evolution of the modern hydropower turbine began in the mid-1700s when French hydraulic and military engineer, Bernard Forest de Bélidor, wrote the groundbreaking "Architecture Hydraulique". In the first half of the nineteenth century, several key developments in hydropower technology took place. In 1827, French engineer Benoit developed the first version of the Fourneyron reaction turbine, producing around 6 horsepower. In 1849, British-American engineer James Francis developed the first modern water turbine, known as the Francis Turbine, which remains the most widely used water turbine today.
In the 1870s, American inventor Lester Allan Pelton invented the Pelton wheel, an impulse water turbine patented in 1880. The world's first hydroelectric project was used to power a single lamp in the Cragside country house in Northumberland, England, in 1878. In 1881, a dynamo connected to a turbine in a flour mill provided street lighting at Niagara Falls, New York. In 1882, the world's first hydropower plant began operations in Appleton, Wisconsin, and within a decade, hundreds of hydropower plants were in operation across the globe.
The twentieth century witnessed rapid innovations in hydropower facility design. Policies enacted by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, including the New Deal in the 1930s, supported the construction of several multipurpose projects such as the Hoover Dam, which began generating power in 1937. Hydropower played a crucial role during World War II, with the Grand Coulee Dam providing electricity for American warplanes. By 1940, hydropower accounted for 40% of the country's electricity generation.
In the late twentieth century, Brazil and China became world leaders in hydropower, with the Itaipu Dam and the Three Gorges Dam, respectively, showcasing significant capacity growth. However, concerns about environmental and social impacts led to a stagnation and decline in capacity growth in the 1980s and 1990s. The World Commission on Dams' landmark report in 2000 challenged existing practices, initiating a shift towards sustainability and community engagement in hydropower development.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydroelectricity is electricity generated from hydropower, or water power.
Hydroelectricity uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. Hydropower facilities use a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water. The kinetic energy of the flowing water is then converted into electricity through the use of turbines and generators.
Hydroelectricity is a renewable, flexible, and cost-effective source of energy. It produces little to no waste and has low greenhouse gas emissions. Hydroelectricity can also be used as a backup power source during major electricity outages or disruptions.
Some examples of hydroelectricity projects include the Grand Coulee Dam in the United States, the Manapouri Power Station in New Zealand, and the Brokopondo Reservoir in Suriname.
The availability of hydroelectricity depends on the water supply and can be affected by seasonal variations and changes in precipitation patterns. Additionally, the installation costs for large hydropower facilities can be significant, including civil construction and electromechanical equipment costs.
