Hydropower – A Green Energy Source
March 3, 2009 by GoGreen
Filed under Different Energy Sources
Harnessing the power of water has opened up incredible options for us in our quest to help the environment heal from the damage that our dependency on fossil fuels has caused. Technology allows us to effectively harness the power of water and convert it into electricity.
In ancient China and Greece, the power of water was harnessed using the simple mechanics of a waterwheel to power millstones and other mechanical devices. This was an innovative way of replacing manual labor. As North America was developed, water was used to power sawmills and other equipment.
Today, hydroelectric plants are still using the same principles to generate power. The major difference is that the energy of water is harnessed to power turbines to generate electricity.
Dams are built to control the flow of the water in order to ensure that a steady supply of swiftly moving water. As there is a need to generate more electricity, the dam’s gates are opened so that the water flows. When there is sufficient power, the gates are closed. Some dams are equipped with recovery systems that pump the water for reuse.
One of the problems with the use of hydroelectric dams is that they can disrupt the aquatic ecosystem on either side of the dam. Another issue, which was illustrated by Egypt’s Aswan Dam, can negatively affect the crops that are dependent on the silt that is nutrient rich. When you alter a waterway, you change the ecosystem and can do permanent damage.
There are solutions to these issues and, if they are implemented, we can benefit from clean, safe, green energy. Instead of the pollution spewing coal fired plants we have the ability to use hydroelectric plants which have none of the toxic emissions.
Another form of hydropower comes from the sea’s movement and is known as wave energy. This type of electrical generation uses air levels in sealed chambers to power the turbines. As the water rises in the chambers, the water forces the air out and that turns a generator. As the water recedes, air flows back into the space and the doors close.
The amount of power produced by this method depending on the motion of the seas. Many of these plants can be found in areas where there is a lot of ocean movement like the northern Canada, west coast of Scotland, Australia. The plants are typically small and are used to produce power for very localized needs such as warning buoys or small lighthouses.
Tidal energy is also a form of harnesses the energy of the ocean. As the tide recedes, water is captured in reservoirs behind the dam and released to create a flow of water that is used to generate power in a manner similar to a conventional hydroelectric dam. In order for tidal energy to be productive 16 foot tides are required. Very few areas in the world have tides that are that high.
Still in the experimental stages in Hawaii and Japan is the process of extracting thermal energy from the ocean. To use this form of energy there needs to be a 38 degree Fahrenheit difference in the temperature of the surface and the deep levels of the ocean.
With such diversity in hydropower, we have several alternative methods of harnessing a clean, green energy source. We need to utilize what nature offers.
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