An Overview of Hydroelectric Power

Amy Orris, Katelyn Snyder, and Jake Roberts

FYF 101J- Alternative Energy: Separating Myth From Reality, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18766
Environmental Problems
Introduction

Hydropower is one of
the leading sources of
energy in the US today.
For electricity to be
generated, flowing
water, like a river, has to
flow
into a reservoir and
over a
dam. The water
then travels
into a
powerhouse
where a
generator and a
transformer are
located.
A turbine that is
connected to the
generator spins which causes the generator to convert the water
into electricity. The transformer then collects the electricity,
which is then transported to a plant by power lines that are
connected to the transformer. The electricity is then stored in the
plant until it is ready to be used for many different purposes. Any
excess water that isnt converted into electricity flows back into
the river through a tunnel located underneath the powerhouse.

Types of Hydropower

The dams produce carbon

dioxide and methane
Tide power
Impacts to fish and birds
Barrage systems
Upstream impacts
QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
Tidal flow
~Wetlands are flooded
are needed to see this picture.
~Humans
often
displaced
Wave power
~Siltation behind dams
Advantages
~Release of greenhouse
gasses
Economic benefits include:
Downstream effects
~No fuel costs
ff.org/centers/csspp/library/
~Scouring
~Low labor
~Temperature
impacts
Dams provide recreation and flood protection
~Dam
failures
can
flood
downstream
communities
Dams have a long life
Hydropower produces constant power
Social and Political Problems
It conserves fossil fuels
It prevents pollution caused by fossil fuels
Dams often use the most arable land. As a result, people will
can be displaced.
~In the past 50 years, some 40-80 million people have
been displaced by building high dams.
~These people are known as environmental refugees
The size of reservoirs can be large and costly.
Claiming that hydro power projects are net producers of
greenhouse gases is not new, but the issue appears to be
climbing up the political agenda.

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/file.php/1697/220826-1f1.25.jpg

Conclusion

http://www.canren.gc.ca/tech_appl/index.asp?CaId=4&PgId=26

Disadvantages
It has an impact on the environment
Construction costs are high
People are displaced when artificial lakes are created
Figure 1: A dam and the holding tank for the water,
or the reservoir, located behind the dam

Hydropower poses many compelling arguments that provide

evidence showing that it can potentially be a major source of energy in the
future. Some of these arguments include that it is the most renewable
sources of energy, its reliable, efficient, less expensive, and it is a clean
source of energy. The plant also doesnt produce air emissions, and
recreational opportunities almost always increase where hydropower is
developed. It is also reliable, efficient, less expensive, and it is a clean
source of electricity. The plant also doesnt produce air emissions, and
recreational opportunities almost always increase where hydropower is
developed. As the number of resources of energy supplies decreases,
hydropower will also provide excess amounts of electricity in the future.
Works Cited
http://library.thinkquest.org/17531/hydro.html/.
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy_
basics/how-hydroelectric-energy-works.html/.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydropower-plant.htm/.