Renewable Hydroelectricity

By: Michael Brannon and Anthony Nguyen

Outline:Advantages/DisadvantagesHow it worksWhere to find Hydro powerProduction timeEnergy Provided EfficiencyWaste ProducedCostThe Hoover DamConclusion

Advantages:Creates no pollutionOnce dam is built it lasts foreverVery reliableCan generate constant electricity(unlike

solar/wind) Can also double as a dam to hold back and

control waterCosts to build can be split because of

electricity production and it will control waterRequires very little maintenance

Disadvantages: Finding a good site to build is difficultImpacts nearby plants and treesAlso impacts fish and animals (fish ladders

are put in place to help fish get back upstream)

Sometimes building a damn will cause water stoppage up stream and flood nearby

How it works…Dam traps water Water is released and flows through tunnels

that power turbinesTurbines drive generatorsEnergy is then put through power lines, and

distributed to usProduces a lot of energy quickly and cheaply.

(Amount of energy depends on size of turbine/plant.)

How Hydroelectricity Works:

Where to findCan be found in rivers, streams and lakes,

any source of constant flowing water

Production TimeInstantly produces energy, as soon as

turbines spin

Turbine

Energy ProvidedProvides 7.1% of the USA’s electricityProvides 20% of the worlds electricity

Efficiency Hydroelectric plants on average are 81%

efficient

Waste ProducedProduces no waste and no pollutionAlthough it does impact fish and animals

habitat

CostIt cost $165,000,000 to build the Hoover DamHydroelectric costs about .50 cents per

kilowatt. (Less than standard power.)The larger the hydroelectric plant, the

cheaper the cost to youHydroelectric plants are cheaper to build

than nuclear power plants, but it is hard to find a location to build one, so they are less common

The Hoover Dam: The Hoover Dam is the

worlds largest dam. Built in 1936 38TH largest hydroelectricity

plant in the world Has 17 generators, each

makes 133 megawatts, for a total of 2,074 megawatts(230,000 volts)

L.A. gets 15.4229% of the electricity generated at the Hoover Dam

Overall CA gets 28.5393% of the electricity generated at the Hoover Dam

Parts of a Hydroelectric Plant:

Penstock

Turbine

Transformer

Water Flow

Spillway

Step up Transformers

Transmission Lines

GeneratorTurbine

ShaftPenstock

Turbine Blades

Water Flow

Power Goes to You.

Conclusion:Hydroelectricity creates no pollution and is

very reliableSometimes it is hard to find a good site to

build on.Requires the constant flow of waterIs 81% efficientCosts about .50 cents per kilowattThe Hoover Dam is the worlds largest dam,

provides 15.4229% of LA’s electricity