Hydroelectricity where is it used

The impact that a hydroelectric project will have on the environment will vary depending on scale and technology being used — for example you can expect a much smaller impact from a small scale run-of-river hydro system than one which requires flooding of land to create a new reservoir which would have a significant impact on the ecosystem both up and downstream.

Once the work has been completed, these locations provide an opportunity for a biodiverse ecosystem to thrive. Additionally, once the water has gone through the turbines to create electricity it carries on their natural water cycle, uncontaminated and unaffected by the process of creating electricity. There are some downsides to hydro — the most obvious one being that you need to have very specific conditions and elements available in order to generate electricity using this type of system.

Additionally, the initial cost to develop and build a project can be very high. Large-scale hydro electricity projects require significant investment in order for them to be built and even then there can be other permissions that are required which can slow can and even halt development.

While certain methods like tidal power are extremely predictable, river run hydro power depends on a constant flow of water which relies on rainfall. The cost of hydroelectric power is largely dependent on the type of generation being used, as the bulk of the cost is in building the system. Unlike other systems, hydro is largely dependent on location which means making a generalisation on cost is extremely difficult as will inevitably vary case by case.

That said if you are able to retrofit existing projects with new technology it would typically be much cheaper than starting from scratch. Once development has been done, operational costs are relatively low compared to other types of electricity generation. Hydroelectricity is largely considered a reliable system which can run for very long periods of time — as such the biggest maintenance costs are clearing debris and replacing damaged intake screens and routine maintenance.

If the means, location and finance are in place and you have access and permission to create your own hydro generation then absolutely, yes you can do it. Climate change and the increased risk of drought are also having an impact on the world's hydropower plants. In the western U. Even the promise of carbon-free electricity from hydropower has been undermined by revelations that decaying organic material in reservoirs releases methane , a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

However, some argue that the environmental impacts of hydroelectric power can be mitigated and remain low compared with burning fossil fuels. In some places, small hydro projects can take advantage of existing water flows or infrastructure. Special water intakes and turbines can help make sure water released from a dam is better aerated to address the problem of low dissolved oxygen.

Dams can be planned more strategically to allow fish passages, for example, while water flows at existing dams can be calibrated to give ecosystems more recovery time from flooding cycles. And research continues on ways to make hydropower projects more friendly to the ecosystems around them. A growing movement is also working to tear down dams that are no longer functioning or needed around the world, with the aim at restoring more natural rivers and the many benefits they provide to wildlife and people, including recreation.

All rights reserved. How hydropower works A typical hydroelectric plant is a system with three parts: a power plant where the electricity is produced, a dam that can be opened or closed to control water flow, and a reservoir where water is stored.

The largest hydropower plants China, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Russia are the five largest producers of hydropower. Hydropower pros and cons Hydropower has several advantages. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London.

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Hydropower provides benefits beyond electricity generation by providing flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.

Hydropower is affordable. Hydropower provides low-cost electricity and durability over time compared to other sources of energy. Construction costs can even be mitigated by using preexisting structures such as bridges, tunnels, and dams. Hydropower compliments other renewable energy sources.

Technologies like pumped storage hydropower PSH store energy to use in tandem with renewables such as wind and solar power when demand is high. Hydropower News.