Hydropower has become "the leading source of renewable energy."
It provides more than 97% of all electricity generated by renewable sources worldwide in 2013.
- Hydropower is produced in 150 countries, with the Asia-Pacific region generating 32% of global hydropower in 2010.
- China is the largest producer, with 721 terawatt-hours of production in 2010, representing around 17% of domestic electricity use.
- In 2011, U.S. was the 2nd largest producer of hydroelectric power.
- Hydropower provides about 20% of the electricity in the U.S.
HOW HYDRO-POWER WORKS?
- Hydropower plants or dams capture the energy of falling water. A turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then this mechanical energy is turned into electrical energy by a generator.
- In the US, hydropower is produced for an
average of 0.7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
- Refurbishing hydroelectric equipment could
further increase efficiency. An improvement of only 1% would supply electricity
to an additional 300,000 households.
ADVANTAGES
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DISADVANTAGES
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WAYS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY & PRODUCTIVITY
Nuclear and fossil fuel plants are not efficient for producing power for the short periods of increased demand during peak periods. Hydroelectric generators can be started or stopped almost instantly; hydropower is more responsive than most other energy sources for meeting peak demands.
- Uprating
- Low-head hydropower
- Peaking
Nuclear and fossil fuel plants are not efficient for producing power for the short periods of increased demand during peak periods. Hydroelectric generators can be started or stopped almost instantly; hydropower is more responsive than most other energy sources for meeting peak demands.
- Pumped storage