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How Is Hydroelectric Power a Good Source of Energy?

According to the APEC Virtual Center, if left unchecked, global temperatures will rise by 2 degrees C by the end of the 21st century. Subsequent concerns about global warming and climate change have led to an increase in research into renewable energy sources (sources which cannot be depleted.) Hydroelectric power, along with wind and solar power, offers an environmentally friendly solution to world energy demands which will, according to Fusion.org, double in the next 50 years.

  1. Key Concepts

    • Stemming from the Greek word hydro, meaning water, hydroelectric power involves using running water to produce electricity. The system works by controlling water flow using a dam and reservoir. The water held above the dam is allowed to build up and so, when the dam is opened, it flows downhill very quickly with enough force to turn turbines which, in turn, drive the generators that produce electricity. The water then continues its normal course down the river. There are five main benefits of using hydroelectric power.

    Renewable

    • Hydroelectric power is a renewable source of energy. This means that, unlike coal, oil and natural gas, there are unlimited supplies of it on earth and so it can continue to provide for the world's energy demands for generations to come, regardless of population growth.

    Environmentally Friendly

    • Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, contribute to global warming by releasing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. They also increase air pollution by emitting methane during burning. In contrast, hydroelectric power does have any negative byproducts.

    Low Cost

    • Once the hydroelectric power station is built, the cost of producing large quantities of electricity is very low because the main resource, water, is free and readily available. However, building the hydroelectric power station is very expensive and one reason why hydroelectric power is not widespread.

    Reliable

    • Hydroelectric power is more reliable than other renewable sources of energy which require specific conditions such as sunlight (solar) or wind. As it is not reliant on a specific condition, electricity can be produced constantly.

    Demand Responsive

    • As water is stored in a reservoir it can be withheld and released dependent on demand. This makes it an essential resource for drought prone countries and means that electricity will not be produced unnecessarily and subsequently wasted.

    Problems

    • At present, according to The Renewable Energy Centre, 20 percent of the world's electricity is produced using hydroelectric power, which is far below potential production. Unfortunately, it is expensive to build the hydroelectric power plants and it is often necessary to flood large areas of land to build reservoirs, so power plants are often rejected at the planning phase due to economic and social reasons. These problems are accentuated as potential areas for power plants are often in developing countries where resource constraints are greater. For example, in Nepal, only 1 percent of the country's hydroelectric capacity is being utilized due to economic and institutional constraints.

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