Now that we’ve explored the pros and cons of using biomass as an alternative for fuel use let’s talk about good ol’ water. Hydroelectricity is an industry that accounts for about 67% of the renewable energy production in the United States, but only 6% of the total energy production. :[ Hydropower relies on changes in elevation and lots of rain in order to produce significant quantities of electricity.
How does Hydro work? : Well, the movement of water as it flows downstream creates kinetic energy that can be converted into electricity. Lets take a look at the process…
“Currently, facilities in the U.S. can generate enough hydropower to supply electricity to 28 million households, which is equivalent to about 500 million barrels of oil.” Imagine if we were able to increase the number of facilities therefore reducing our dependency on oil greatly. (http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-and-you/affect/hydro.html)
Hydropower has no air quality impacts reducing the number of greenhouse gases emitted but it does take a toll on the fish populations. Though some plants have employed systems that track the fish and they make certain that no harm is done.
There are different types of hydroelectric plants. There are those that function off of natural forces from the current apply the needed pressure (which are least disruptive) known as “run-of-the-river systems” and there are those that create dams to make an elevation difference known as “storage systems”. Wave power and tidal power, which are more predictable than wind and solar are also forms of hydroelectric activity. To learn more about these check out this website! http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=hydropower_home-basics-k.cfm
Overall harnessing the power of the the water our world has so much of is a great way to buff up our renewable energy production!
9 comments:
Hydro seems like such a good idea, but it hurts the environment around it. I know you said some plants have employed systems that track the fish, but how much does that really help the fish? It may help a little but either way when using hydro your ruining their environment.
Wow, hydropower seems to have no downside. This is a great solution to our energy problem. I'm real interested in the hydroelectric plants!
How much would it be to create a hydroelectric plant? There should most definitely be an increase in these plants if they are cost-efficient. I am also curious as to how the plants make sure that no harm is done to the fish. If they find that they are harming them, do they stop running, thus leaving people without power?
Well it sounds like we are not getting enough out of hydro power. Guess we might have to put wind turbines up to make up for it.
It is really sad that hydroelectricity makes up such a big percentage of renewable energy but not a large percentage of the energy actually used. Do the hydroelectric plants cause harm to the environment that they are built in? Hydroelectric sounds like a good alternative energy source but does it destroy natural habitats such as waterfalls?
Tori: Studies have shown that when the plants are installed properly that no harm is done to the fish and their migration patterns. But adding a plant to their environment does for sure alter it, that is just one of the downsides of hydro such as birds being harmed by wind. We could try to find a solution but in the mean time the advantages are far worse than the losses.
Katrina: I saw an episode of "Dirty Jobs" where they were at a hydroplant which is where I saw this process. You should check out that website and see if they have the episode available.
I agree with Cody. What are the effects of this electric use? It would definitely give new jobs for people. Maybe even boost our economy. You never know. “Currently, facilities in the U.S. can generate enough hydropower to supply electricity to 28 million households" that is so cool! 28 million is a huge number. I really liked this post. Good Work.
4 billion kilowatt hours a year (enough to serve 1.3 million people)is produced at the hydroelectric plant in the hoover dam. This is one plant. If we were to have more of them it would make a huge difference. Damming water sources to create the energy is harmful to the environment of water life I am not a proponent of this. It can kill fish populations, alter ecosystems and plant life. But other forms of harnessing the power of water such as tidal power and run of the river systems are a great way to produce the energy we need with no impact to the life around the system.
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