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Discover Why Hydropower Is the Leader in Renewable Energy. See How Hydroelectric Plants Transform the Force of Water Into Electricity and Their Impacts
Hydropower is obtained from harnessing the gravitational potential of water, meaning the energy that can be obtained from the movement of water from a high point to a lower level. The systems that determine this type of energy are called micro turbines.
The greatest utilization of hydropower occurs at waterfalls of dams. Water is typically retained in reservoirs or artificial lakes. These are large artificially created deposits, closing the mouth of a valley with a dike or dam, where river waters are held back.
This stored water can later be used for irrigation, supplying populations, or for generating electricity in a hydroelectric power plant. Most hydropower dams are intended for electricity generation. However, in times of scarcity, they can have other uses.
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Hydropower Is the Largest Global Source of Electricity
Countries with great hydropower potential obtain most of their electricity from hydroelectric plants due to their great advantages. Among them is the fact that it is an inexhaustible resource that renews freely and constantly in nature, allowing the surplus to be used for other purposes.
However, hydropower also has disadvantages. It is not possible to make precise predictions because they depend on annual rainfall. It is impossible to know for sure whether there will be drought or abundant rains. Therefore, although it is one of the main sources of renewable energy, its reliability can be cyclical.
The locations of hydroelectric plants are often far from large populations, requiring expensive electrical grids to transport the generated electricity. Another unfavorable aspect is the negative effect that the creation of a reservoir can have on the environment. In addition to possible problems of altering waterways, erosion, impacts on populations, and the loss of fertile soils, among others.
These inconveniences, combined with the significant investments required for hydropower plants and the increasingly difficult location of suitable sites, are what prevent greater utilization of this energy source. However, hydropower remains the most used among renewable energy sources for electricity generation.
A Very Reliable Technology
The technology of the main installations has remained the same throughout the 20th century. Plants that harness hydropower rely on a large water reservoir contained by a dam. The flow of water is controlled and can be maintained almost constant. Water is transported through conduits or forced pipelines, controlled with valves and turbines to match the water flow to electricity demand.
The water that enters the turbine exits through the discharge channels. The generators are located just above the turbines and connected to vertical shafts. The design of the turbines depends on the water flow. Francis-Kaplan turbines are used for large flows and medium to low heads. Pelton turbines are used for high heads and low flows.
Hydraulic turbines are used to harness the energy of moving water. The Kaplan turbine resembles a ship’s propeller. Its broad blades or vanes are driven by high-pressure water released through a gate.
The Pelton turbine is a 19th-century model whose operation is more similar to that of a traditional water mill. The wheel spins when water from the conduit is forced, striking its blades or vanes. The water exits at high pressure through the nozzle and drives the vanes that turn a shaft.
In addition to plants located at retaining dams, which rely on large quantities of water in reservoirs, there are some plants that are based on the natural fall of water, when the flow is uniform. All of them are employed worldwide for their efficiency and long lifespan.
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