Alternative Energy Alternative Energy ResourceResource

HydroelectricityHydroelectricity

Chris NguyenChris Nguyen

What is hydroelectricity?What is hydroelectricity?

• Hydroelectricity is an renewable Hydroelectricity is an renewable energy that use of the power of the energy that use of the power of the moving water to turns the turbine of moving water to turns the turbine of the generator and produce energy.the generator and produce energy.

How does it work?How does it work?

• The common power The common power station that use station that use hydroelectricity is the hydroelectricity is the dam. Dam is a huge dam. Dam is a huge barrier that block the barrier that block the water in a side and water in a side and release the water that is release the water that is use to power up the use to power up the generator and produce generator and produce energy the other side.energy the other side.

• There are 3 steps for There are 3 steps for producing electricity:producing electricity:

1) The water 1) The water turns the turbines of the turns the turbines of the generator.generator.

2) The generator 2) The generator produces electricityproduces electricity

3) The energy 3) The energy produce is send to the produce is send to the high voltage lineshigh voltage lines

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Water is a free Water is a free renewable resourcerenewable resource

• Water is the most Water is the most abundant resource on abundant resource on EarthEarth

• Active all the timeActive all the time• Hydro power plant are Hydro power plant are

really cheap to operatereally cheap to operate• It is an economic way to It is an economic way to

produce energyproduce energy• No carbon dioxide No carbon dioxide

emission => reduces emission => reduces the used of fossil fuelsthe used of fossil fuels

• The lack that is created The lack that is created during the built of the during the built of the dam can be used as dam can be used as water park or for the water park or for the purpose of the fish purpose of the fish farmingfarming

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Affect dramatically Affect dramatically the ecosystemthe ecosystem

• Flooding cause the Flooding cause the destruction of destruction of plants and animals plants and animals speciesspecies

• Building dams can Building dams can cause soil erosion.cause soil erosion.

• Population Population relocation relocation

• Dams are really Dams are really expensive to builtexpensive to built

More informationMore information

• These power stations These power stations have limited have limited locations for many locations for many reasons:reasons:– Need a close area: the Need a close area: the

water flow has to be water flow has to be between mountains or between mountains or high elevation to high elevation to prevent side flow.prevent side flow.

– A middle/strong water A middle/strong water flowflow

– A non risk area with A non risk area with low costslow costs

More informationMore information

• Building the power plants can be difficult for Building the power plants can be difficult for many reasons:many reasons:– You have to make research about the areaYou have to make research about the area– The plan have to be approved by the authorityThe plan have to be approved by the authority– Building a dam can cause the death of many species Building a dam can cause the death of many species

and the lost of historical things.and the lost of historical things.– Flooding will affect the zone where the dam is and also Flooding will affect the zone where the dam is and also

affect the different areas linked to the water flow.affect the different areas linked to the water flow.– People have to be relocated if the plan is approvedPeople have to be relocated if the plan is approved– Building a dam is really expensive and takes a long time Building a dam is really expensive and takes a long time

to be achievedto be achieved

Works citedWorks cited

• http://www.epa.gov/solar/energy-andhttp://www.epa.gov/solar/energy-and-you/affect/hydro.html-you/affect/hydro.html

• http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowwhttp://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.htmlorks.html

• http://www.energyrefuge.com/archivhttp://www.energyrefuge.com/archives/hydro-electricity.htmes/hydro-electricity.htm