Hydroelectric Power: Renewable Energy Explained

What is Hydroelectric Power?

Hydroelectric power is a type of renewable energy that comes from the movement of water to generate electricity. The most common way of harvesting hydroelectric power is by using dams. In dams, the water is typically stored high above the ground behind a barricade. Due to the water's position, it has a lot of potential energy which is the stored energy an object has (in this case the water) to do work due to its position. Therefore, the higher the water is, the more potential energy it has. Energy can't be created or destroyed, so as the water is released and rapidly falls down the dam, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as the position of the water decreases but the speed increases. The water then passes through and spins wind turbines, converting the kinetic energy to mechanical energy. The wind turbines are connected to a generator which is able to generate electricity from the movement of the turbines which can them be dispersed to power society.

Benefits of Hydroelectric Power

The main benefit that comes from hydroelectric power is the fact that it is a renewable energy source. Over time but especially in the past couple of decades, global warming has been getting worse and worse. A reason for this is because humans had been using a lot of nonrenewable energy sources like burning coal and gas which emits a lot more greenhouse gasses. To combat this, society has started to use more and more renewable energy, hydroelectric power being one example. This limits the negative environmental impact of generating electricity while still being able to power our devices, houses, and buildings.

Furthermore, dams are cheap to operate after being built. They can even operate just fine for a full century without needing significantly costly repairs. Hydroelectric power is also very reliable because unlike solar or wind, which depends a lot on how frequent those weather conditions occur, it is basically a source of energy that is always available to be of use.

Cons of Hydroelectric Power

Like anything, there are two sides to every coin and hydroelectric power is no exception. Even though the maintenance cost of dams is very low, building the actual dam can cost up to billions of dollars depending on the size and location. Furthermore, buildings dams are not easy and commonly takes many years to finish. This is different from things like solar panels for solar energy which are not as costly and quicker to build.

Additionally, the building of dams can flood large areas of land in the process. The water can easily destroy the habitats of many animals and plants. There have also been instances where people have to move out of their homes because a dam is being built nearby. Dams also disrupt the natural flow of bodies of water like rivers which can affect certain organisms living in the water that may have hard time adapting to changes in their habitat. It is often detrimental to the whole community in a habitat even if one species begins to die off rapidly because that impacts the rest of the food chain within that area. Certain birds can also migrate away if the dam is affecting the bodies of water to much which not only forces them to seek new, suitable homes but again, impacts the natural food chain and interactions between animals that had been there before the dam was created.

Conclusion

In summary, hydroelectric power represents a crucial sector of renewable energy production. Its benefits, such as minimal environmental impact and reliable energy supply, make it a favorable option for sustainable development. As technology continues to advance, hydropower will likely play a pivotal role in addressing the world's energy needs while striving for a cleaner and more resilient energy future.

Sources:
Newland, David. 2014. “Environmental Science.” Environmentalscience.Org. https://www.environmentalscience.org/hydroelectric-power.

Encyclopedia Britannica. 2018. Hydroelectric Power | Definition & Facts. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/hydroelectric-power.