N. Shreyans Jain

Symposium on

Working of hydroelectric power plant

Advantages & Dis-Advantages of hydro electricity generation

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT:-

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.

It is the most widely used form of renewable energy, accounting for 16 percent of global electricity generation – 3,427 terawatt-hours of electricity production in 2010, and is expected to increase about 3.1% each year for the next 25 years.

The cost of hydroelectricity is relatively

low, making it a competitive source of

renewable electricity.

Worldwide, hydropower plants produce

about 24 percent of the world's electricity

and supply more than 1 billion people with

power.

There are more than 2,000 hydropower

plants operating in the United States,

making hydropower the country's largest

renewable energy source.

ADVANTAGES:-

1. Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.

2. If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut, stopping electricity generation. The water can be saved for use another time when electricity demand is high.

7. When in use, electricity produced by dam systems do not produce green house gases. They do not pollute the atmosphere.

Hydroelectricity uses the energy of running water, without reducing its quantity, to produce electricity. Therefore, all hydroelectric developments, of small or large size, whether run of the river or of accumulated storage, fit the concept of renewable energy

No fuel required: One of the major advantages of the hydroelectric power plants is that they don’t require any fuel for producing power. The hydroelectric power plants utilize renewable energy of water to generating electricity.

Long life: The life of hydroelectric power plants is longer than the life of thermal power plants. There are some hydroelectric power plants that were built more than 50-100 years ago and are still working.

Cost of generation of electricity: For the working of hydroelectric power plant very few people are required since most of the operations are automated, thus operating costs of hydroelectric power plants are low.

Prevents floods: The dams also help prevent floods in the areas adjoining the large rivers.

DISADVANTAGES:-

Like all power plants, hydroelectric plants are very expensive to build, and must be built to a very high standard.

The water while flowing through the dam collects nitrogen which can damage and also kills fish. They can also damage the reproduction of fishes thus eliminating the whole species of fishes.

It can be generated only in areas with heavy rainfall and sufficient supply of water.

Hydel power generation stations are to be located in hilly mountainous terrains where waterfalls as well as ideal sites for dams are located. In a region/country without hills hydelpower generation is not possible.

If rains are scarce, there might not be enough water to turn turbines.Building of dam causes lot of pollution.

NON-CONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF

ENERGY:-

In,India, non-conventional energy sources consist of those energy sources that are infinite, natural, and restorable.

For example, tidal energy, solar energy, and wind energy are nonconventional sources of energy.

Fascinatingly, the application of tidal energy and wind energy was operational in the form of energy sources long back when mineral oil, coal, and natural gas were not broadly introduced as conventional sources of energy.

All these sources are renewable or inexhaustible and do not cause environmental pollution.