Why Is Hydropower A Green Energy Source?
Why is hydropower a green energy source? It is
because we are able to harness electrical power by converting water into
electricity.
The use of hydroelectric power or even hydroelectricity dates back to
Ancient Greece and China when they installed waterwheels in rapidly
flowing rivers to turn millstones and other equipment. Years later, this
was used in the New World which is now known as North America to power
saws and other equipment.
But the hydroelectric plants of today still use the same basic
principles as the historical waterwheel with some variations. The
difference is that we use the force of the power to push the turbine
which in turn powers a generator thus generating electricity.
To make sure that there is a steady flow of power being produced, a dam
has to be built to retain the water. If there is a need for more power,
the gates of the dam are opened so water can be released. During
non-peak, the gates are closed. To ensure there is water at all times,
some dams have a recovery and pumping systems to the water released can
be used again.
There are issues with the use of hydroelectricity. Some claim that it
poses a problem for fish and aquatic plants on both sides of the dam.
Because the flow of water has been altered, the nutrient rich silt which
helps crops grow could be affected which is exactly what happened when
the Aswan Dam was completed in Egypt.
But there are ways to fix that and the bigger picture is that power
produced from hydroelectric plants do not generate any emissions or
waste which happens to be much better than operating a coal-fired power
plant.
There is another way to generate hydropower and you get this form the
sea. This is also known as wave power or wave energy which uses changes
in the air levels of sealed chambers to power turbines. When a wave
rises into the chamber, the rise water pushes the air out which then
turns a generator.
Once the wave goes down, air flows into the turbine and back into the
chamber through doors that will close.
These chambers remain afloat on the ocean and how much power it produces
varies. A lot of these are used on the western coasts of Scotland,
northern Canada, southern Africa, Australia, and the northwestern coasts
of the United States. These systems are usually small and can power a
warning buoy or a small light house.
There is also tidal energy. The difference with wave energy is that when
the tide approaches, the water is trapped in reservoirs behind dams.
When the tide drops, the water behind the dam is released thus producing
power similar to a hydroelectric power plant.
This can only work if you have tides that are at least 16 feet and since
there are only a few places in the planet that can do that.
Lastly, you have ocean thermal energy. Here, you get power based on the
different temperatures in the water. For this to work, you need at least
38 degrees Fahrenheit difference between the warmer surface water and
the colder deep ocean water. Still in the trial stage, it is used Japan
and Hawaii.
Hydropower is a green energy source. It is safe to use and what is even
better is that it is renewable.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
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