Hydroelectric Energy

Brooke Edwards, Steve Reinauer, Heather Shutt, Daniel Weigner, &

Kathleen Widmer

General Information

• Derived from the movement of water• Normally produced by use of dams• Been around for centuries• Potential realized by end of 19th Century• Developed by mid-20th Century

Can Hydropower meet Electrical Demands in the Future?

• A clean, renewable source, emitting a very low level of greenhouse gases

• Low operating cost (once installed)• Available on demand because the flow of

water is controlled

Can Hydropower meet Electrical Demands in the Future?

• Can be connected to a main electricity grid or off-grid– On-grid can have excess energy that can be sold

back to electric companies– Can possibly have a negative electric bill

Can Hydropower meet Electrical Demands in the Future?

Can Hydropower meet Electrical Demands in the Future?

• The amount of energy that could feasibly be captured from waves, tides, and river currents is enough to power 67 million homes

• Equivalent to displacing 22 new dirty coal-fired power plants

• Predictable energy source• Small hydropower is one of the best

alternatives to the highly polluting and costly diesel generation we live in

Can Hydropower meet Electrical Demands in the Future?

• Once set up, hydropower can start working speedily

• Electricity can be generated constantly• It’s a reliable and consistent form of energy• Once the dam is built, the dam is virtually free• Tremendous growth available because 98% of

all the dams in the US don’t provide power.

Does our group agree with the evidence?

Does our group agree with the evidence?

Fact:We know that hydropower, especially for electrical

generation, is localized.

This makes researchers ask two main questions:

Can production be enhanced in those areas in which it is already developed?

• Must be advancement in technology– Would allow more power to be collected in

certain areas– Constant research

Can production be developed in areas where it is now minimally developed?• Must meet space requirements• Expensive building costs• Overcome environmental impacts• Wherever water is, great potential• Suggestions:– Set up community project– Apply for government grants

Novel Application

• Potential down the road• One of the largest electricity producers in U.S.• 20% of electricity in U.S. is generated through

water• Clean and safe• Self-sustaining• 90-95% efficiency rate

Novel Application

• Dam– Flood protection

• Long-lived• Conserves fossil fuels• Prevents pollution• Local economies

Environmental Problems

• Positives:– Relatively clean– Low level emission of greenhouse gases

Environmental Problems

• Negatives:– Impacts health of fish and birds– Dams block fish passage– Flooding

Social and Political Problems

• Hazardous– Banqiao Dam– Vajont Dam

• Targets for wartime attacks• Limited service life• Reduced salmon populations

Social and Political Problems• Methane gas• Carbon dioxide• Floods• Displacement of people

Laws and Regulations

• United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)– Licensing, compliance, safety and inspection– Issuances of licenses– Oversight of all ongoing project operations

Sustainability

• National Hydropower Association– “Fuel”– 90-95% of energy is converted

Sustainability• Independent study– Supply 31 million homes by 2025– Create between 230,000 and 750,000 job

• 93% of individuals feel importance in future• For this to happen, we must:• Be able to afford price• Have help financially from government• Examine environmental problems

Conclusion

• Hydropower is important for the future• Sustainable• Economically beneficial• Great, clean source of energy• Must consider negative aspects