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HydroEnergy. Jan Pinon. Hydropower plants produce about 24 percent of the world's electricity and supply more than 1 billion people with power. The world's hydropower plants output a combined total of 675,000 megawatts , the energy equivalent of 3.6 billion barrels of oil.
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HydroEnergy Jan Pinon
Hydropower plants produce about 24 percent of the world's electricity and supply more than 1 billion people with power. • The world's hydropower plants output a combined total of 675,000 megawatts, the energy equivalent of 3.6 billion barrels of oil. • Canada is the largest producer of hydropower in the world while the United States is second.
What is hydro energy? • Hydro energy is simply energy that is taken from water and converted to electricity. • The most common method of using energy from water is a hydroelectric dam. • It can be generated from the energy flowing water, tidal forces or wave power.
Ideas from the Past. • The waterwheel is a device that uses flowing or falling water to create power with a set of paddles mounted around a wheel. • The force of the water moved the paddles, and the rotation of the wheel is transmitted to machinery via the shaft of the wheel. • The first reference to its use dates back to about 4000 B.C. • They were used for crop irrigation, supply drinking water to villages, drive sawmills, etc.
Hydroelectric dams • This is based on a simple idea- water flowing through a dam turns a turbine, which turns a generator, creating energy. • Step 1: a dam is built to hold back water, creating a reservoir • Step 2: gates open and water flows towards turbines • Step 3: the water turns the turbines, which is attached to a generator. • Step 4: a series of magnets turn inside the generator, producing alternating current • Step 5: the water re-enters the river
Pumped-storage dams • A different type of hydroelectric dam • Instead of having water flow down through the dam then exiting, a pumped-storage dam has two reservoirs • Upper reservoir - The water in this reservoir flows through the hydropower plant to create electricity. • Lower reservoir - Water from the upper reservoir is pumped back up and to generate more electricity. • Basically, its recycling the water again. • This is done during periods of peak consumption
Pros: • Hydropower is clean. • It is renewable. • It doesn't produce any greenhouse gases or other air pollution. • It also doesn't generate any waste products, or burn fossil fuels. • It is cheaper than other methods • It can be used quickly to meet demand
Cons: • The dams are very expensive to build. • It can sometimes change the natural flow of the water which can make it possible to harm plants and animals in the water. • It can also damage areas and wildlife when areas are flooded upstream • Finding a suitable site can be difficult.
Hydro Electric Plants in B.C. • There are 19 hydro electric plants in BC • Aberfeldie, Arrow Lakes, Akolkolex, Bonnington, Brandywine Creek, Brilliant Dam, Elko Dam, Falls River, Furry Creek, Gordon M Shrum, Mica, Peace Canyon, Pingston Creek, Revelstoke, Rutherford Creek, Seven Mile, Upper Mamquam, Waneta Dam, Woodfibre. • Most are operated by B.C. Hydro.
Citations: • "Hydroelectric Plants in Canada - British Columbia." The Power Plants Around the World. 01112009. Platts, Web. 17 Jan 2010. <http://www.industcards.com/hydro-canada-bc.htm>. • Bonsor, Kevin. "How Hydropower Plants Work." HowStuffWorks. Discovery, Web. 17 Jan 2010. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/hydropower-plant.htm>. • "Hydro Energy." KidzWorld. Web. 17 Jan 2010. <http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1375-hydro-energy>. • Bellis, Mary. "Waterwheel ." About. Web. 17 Jan 2010. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blwaterwheel.htm>.
