HydroelectricityHydroelectricity

Zack CarlstromZack CarlstromWill MathewsWill Mathews

Allison CheneyAllison CheneyAndrew FlynnAndrew FlynnStacy JanusStacy Janus

A Presentation by:

Hydroelectric Power- The Hydroelectric Power- The BasicsBasics

Hydro-Hydro-electric electric power power makes makes up up 15%15% of the of the world’s world’s generategenerated powerd power

Hydroelectric power makes up only 6% of America’s total power, while it makes up 30% of Canada’s total power

Hydroelectric Power- The Hydroelectric Power- The BasicsBasics

Hydro-Hydro-electric electric power is power is generatgenerated by ed by running running waterwater

How is hydropower generated?How is hydropower generated?

MagicMagic

But Seriously…But Seriously…

Hydropower is Hydropower is generated by generated by the controlled the controlled flow of running flow of running water through water through dams and dams and turbines, which turbines, which generates the generates the electricityelectricity

Here’s a close-up lookHere’s a close-up look

Here’s an even closer lookHere’s an even closer look

The Turbine CueThe Turbine Cue Wow demonstrationWow demonstration

Initial Setup CostsInitial Setup Costs

They are extremely high, higher They are extremely high, higher than most other power production than most other power production formsforms

Many homes are uprooted due to Many homes are uprooted due to the damming of riversthe damming of rivers

Costs include buying land, Costs include buying land, displacement, engineering and displacement, engineering and constructionconstruction

Hydro stations take an extremely Hydro stations take an extremely large time to plan and buildlarge time to plan and build

Long Term Operation CostsLong Term Operation Costs

A kilowatt hour costs only 3 cents, A kilowatt hour costs only 3 cents, four times cheaper than averagefour times cheaper than average

That’s hella cheap!That’s hella cheap! It’s also renewable!It’s also renewable! The flow of rivers=cheapThe flow of rivers=cheap Plants stay operational for an Plants stay operational for an

extremely long time with little extremely long time with little maintenancemaintenance

Short term pollutionShort term pollution

Very high, due to the difficult Very high, due to the difficult production processproduction process

Less developed countries tend to Less developed countries tend to have more pollutionhave more pollution

Long Term PollutionLong Term Pollution

Relatively low- no fossil fuels usedRelatively low- no fossil fuels used However, high levels of methane are However, high levels of methane are

produced in tropical areas due to produced in tropical areas due to environmental conditions environmental conditions surrounding the displacement of surrounding the displacement of waterwater

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

HUGE AND HORRIBLEHUGE AND HORRIBLE Water quality downstream Water quality downstream

mutilatedmutilated Natural habitats destroyedNatural habitats destroyed Disruption of migration patternsDisruption of migration patterns

More environmental More environmental impactsimpacts

Hydroelectric power destroys boating Hydroelectric power destroys boating environments. environments.

Rivers can become unusableRivers can become unusable

BUTBUT Reservoirs created can be used for Reservoirs created can be used for

other watersport activities other watersport activities Increases fish catching possibilitiesIncreases fish catching possibilities Improves local irrigation systemsImproves local irrigation systems

More environmental More environmental impactsimpacts

Flooding is major Flooding is major concern. concern.

Quick changes in Quick changes in water levels can be water levels can be dangerous to both dangerous to both people and people and animalsanimals

AvailabilityAvailability Only usable on riversOnly usable on rivers Many rivers already have dams or Many rivers already have dams or

laws prohibiting uselaws prohibiting use Power can be easily transportedPower can be easily transported Not all areas can afford a hydro plantNot all areas can afford a hydro plant

How hydro doesn’t stack upHow hydro doesn’t stack up

Dam failures are rare but deadlyDam failures are rare but deadly http://youtube.com/watch?v=CV6wvFfv0Hohttp://youtube.com/watch?v=CV6wvFfv0Ho The sites that can be economically The sites that can be economically

developed for hydro-electric production are developed for hydro-electric production are limitedlimited

New sites can be far from population New sites can be far from population centers and require long transmission linescenters and require long transmission lines

Dependant on rainfall or snowmeltDependant on rainfall or snowmelt Can fail on low or high water level periodsCan fail on low or high water level periods

How does hydro stack up?How does hydro stack up?

Has a predictable rate of production Has a predictable rate of production – wind power does not– wind power does not

No nuclear wasteNo nuclear waste No fossil fuels used in process of No fossil fuels used in process of

productionproduction Source is renewableSource is renewable Once built, energy is virtually freeOnce built, energy is virtually free

How does hydro stack up?How does hydro stack up?

Water can be stored above the dam Water can be stored above the dam so it can cope with peaks in demandso it can cope with peaks in demand

HYDRO is better!HYDRO is better! Most popular renewable resourceMost popular renewable resource