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HydroelectricityHydroelectricity
Zack CarlstromZack CarlstromWill MathewsWill Mathews
Allison CheneyAllison CheneyAndrew FlynnAndrew FlynnStacy JanusStacy Janus
A Presentation by:
Hydroelectric Power- The Hydroelectric Power- The BasicsBasics
Hydro-Hydro-electric electric power power makes makes up up 15%15% of the of the world’s world’s generategenerated powerd power
Hydroelectric power makes up only 6% of America’s total power, while it makes up 30% of Canada’s total power
Hydroelectric Power- The Hydroelectric Power- The BasicsBasics
Hydro-Hydro-electric electric power is power is generatgenerated by ed by running running waterwater
But Seriously…But Seriously…
Hydropower is Hydropower is generated by generated by the controlled the controlled flow of running flow of running water through water through dams and dams and turbines, which turbines, which generates the generates the electricityelectricity
Here’s an even closer lookHere’s an even closer look
The Turbine CueThe Turbine Cue Wow demonstrationWow demonstration
Initial Setup CostsInitial Setup Costs
They are extremely high, higher They are extremely high, higher than most other power production than most other power production formsforms
Many homes are uprooted due to Many homes are uprooted due to the damming of riversthe damming of rivers
Costs include buying land, Costs include buying land, displacement, engineering and displacement, engineering and constructionconstruction
Hydro stations take an extremely Hydro stations take an extremely large time to plan and buildlarge time to plan and build
Long Term Operation CostsLong Term Operation Costs
A kilowatt hour costs only 3 cents, A kilowatt hour costs only 3 cents, four times cheaper than averagefour times cheaper than average
That’s hella cheap!That’s hella cheap! It’s also renewable!It’s also renewable! The flow of rivers=cheapThe flow of rivers=cheap Plants stay operational for an Plants stay operational for an
extremely long time with little extremely long time with little maintenancemaintenance
Short term pollutionShort term pollution
Very high, due to the difficult Very high, due to the difficult production processproduction process
Less developed countries tend to Less developed countries tend to have more pollutionhave more pollution
Long Term PollutionLong Term Pollution
Relatively low- no fossil fuels usedRelatively low- no fossil fuels used However, high levels of methane are However, high levels of methane are
produced in tropical areas due to produced in tropical areas due to environmental conditions environmental conditions surrounding the displacement of surrounding the displacement of waterwater
Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts
HUGE AND HORRIBLEHUGE AND HORRIBLE Water quality downstream Water quality downstream
mutilatedmutilated Natural habitats destroyedNatural habitats destroyed Disruption of migration patternsDisruption of migration patterns
More environmental More environmental impactsimpacts
Hydroelectric power destroys boating Hydroelectric power destroys boating environments. environments.
Rivers can become unusableRivers can become unusable
BUTBUT Reservoirs created can be used for Reservoirs created can be used for
other watersport activities other watersport activities Increases fish catching possibilitiesIncreases fish catching possibilities Improves local irrigation systemsImproves local irrigation systems
More environmental More environmental impactsimpacts
Flooding is major Flooding is major concern. concern.
Quick changes in Quick changes in water levels can be water levels can be dangerous to both dangerous to both people and people and animalsanimals
AvailabilityAvailability Only usable on riversOnly usable on rivers Many rivers already have dams or Many rivers already have dams or
laws prohibiting uselaws prohibiting use Power can be easily transportedPower can be easily transported Not all areas can afford a hydro plantNot all areas can afford a hydro plant
How hydro doesn’t stack upHow hydro doesn’t stack up
Dam failures are rare but deadlyDam failures are rare but deadly http://youtube.com/watch?v=CV6wvFfv0Hohttp://youtube.com/watch?v=CV6wvFfv0Ho The sites that can be economically The sites that can be economically
developed for hydro-electric production are developed for hydro-electric production are limitedlimited
New sites can be far from population New sites can be far from population centers and require long transmission linescenters and require long transmission lines
Dependant on rainfall or snowmeltDependant on rainfall or snowmelt Can fail on low or high water level periodsCan fail on low or high water level periods
How does hydro stack up?How does hydro stack up?
Has a predictable rate of production Has a predictable rate of production – wind power does not– wind power does not
No nuclear wasteNo nuclear waste No fossil fuels used in process of No fossil fuels used in process of
productionproduction Source is renewableSource is renewable Once built, energy is virtually freeOnce built, energy is virtually free
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