Four Types Of Hydroelectric Power

Hydroelectric power is one of the oldest methods of producing power, it is the most important and used renewable source of energy. Furthermore, 16% of the total electricity production in the world is produced by hydroelectric stations. Hydropower plants use the energy of falling water to generate electricity. A turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a generator converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy. There are four main parts of a hydroelectric power plant, the dam, the turbine, the generator and the transmission line. The dam raises the water level to create falling water and controls the flow of water. The falling water which is pushing against the turbine's blades

The first type of power plant is called impoundment, this is the most common. An impoundment station, which is normally a large hydropower system, has a dam which stores the water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which then activates a generator to produce electricity. The second type of power plant is called diversion, sometimes called run-of-river. This facility does not require a dam and it channels the portion of a river through a canal. The last type of power plant is called pumped storage and it works like a battery, it stores the electricity for later use. It stores the energy by pumping the water uphill to a reservoir to a second reservoir. When there is less electrical demand, for example in the night, a pumped storage facility stores energy by pumping the water from one reservoir to the other. On the other hand, when there is high electrical demand, the water is released back to the first reserve and turns the turbine which then generates

Therefore, it does not matter if the hydroelectric power plant is big or small or if it runs with water from the river or water which is stored, all of them create what is called renewable energy. Moreover, the power plants which have an accumulation reservoir are really flexible with the production of energy since they respond to the demand of electricity during the day. The storage capacity of hydroelectric power makes it more efficient than other renewable energy such as solar energy. Water is a resource which is easily found in nature, in rivers and oceans so it is not a subject to market fluctuations. Hydroelectric power plant reservoirs collect rainwater, which can later on be used for either consumption or for the irrigation of plants. By storing water, this also reduces the chance of having floods or droughts. Hydroelectricity power plants do not release as much pollutants or toxic products into the air compared to other types power plants. Water is a renewable source so it substitutes the burning of fossil fuels, therefore this reduces acid rain and smog. The hydroelectric cycle produces very small amounts of greenhouse gasses compared to power plants driven by oil, coal or gas. This means that hydroelectricity reduces the chances of global warming. Furthermore, Hydroelectric power is a source of energy which is present in each country.