News
Renewable or non-renewable?
03/04/2011 21:04
Hydroelectricity is a renewable source of energy, being made by gathering the energy in moving water. The energy comes from using the power of the falling water to turn giant turbines. These spinning turbines are connected to generators, and the spinning creates electricity that is put on the...
How do we obtain it?
03/04/2011 21:04
Artificial dams may have a hydroelectric power plant or station attached to them (unless they were built for other purposes). Dams are used to store water so it can be released in a controlled way.
How?
03/04/2011 21:03
Hydroelectricity is derived from the potential energy that water has when it is at a height above sea level. One side of the dam holds backwater at a high level and the other side has water flowing at a low level. As the water falls to the lower level, some of the energy can be transformed...
How long ago?
03/04/2011 21:02
No one knows exactly when hydropower was created, but we do know it has been used for more than 2000 years starting with the Greeks and the use of water wheels. Every things starts of simple and hydropower was no excuse. eVen though it was being used for more than 2000 years we used...
How do we use Hydroelectricity
03/04/2011 20:54
The first use of water to produce electricity was for a wheel built by the Ottawa Electric Light Company at Chaudieres Falls in 1881. It was used to power streetlights.
Approximately 475 hydroelectric generating plants across the country produce an average of 355 terawatt-hours per year — one...
How does the world use it?
03/04/2011 20:54
Not everyone can use Hydro Electricity as one of their country's main power source; this is because some countries may not get enough water to produce an efficient energy while other countries may not be able to afford the cost of building a hydroelectric dam. However, any country that can...
Efficiency
03/04/2011 20:53
Hydropower electricity is the most efficient source of energy; it is able to convert 95% of the available energy into electricity. Comparing that to other resource such fossil fuels which produces about 60% of the available energy to electricity. In addition, fossil fuels are not...
Long Time
03/04/2011 20:53
Hydropower stations have a very long service life, which can be extended further with repayments being done also. DeCew Falls 1 in Ontario was commissioned in 1898 and is still operating today; Pointe de Bois in Manitoba, commissioned in 1911, is still producing power; and Beauharnois in Quebec...
Disadvantages
03/04/2011 20:50
River flow Disruptions- Hydropower dams disrupts the natural flow of waters. This will alter the original flow of the river stream and disrupts to ecological region around that area.
Obstacles for fish migration- Here is another of the disadvantages of hydropower, Building a dam on a river...
Sustainability
03/04/2011 20:46
Wherever the natural water cycle continually replenishes the water source, power can be continually generated. There is no need ever to discover, mine, produce, or transport any additional water to the higher elevation from which it can generate energy as it moves under the effect of gravity...