| What is hydro energy? | | | | Dams are built in order to create a man made |
| Fossil fuel reserves have become seriously depleted | | | | waterfall; as the water falls it rotates a turbine thus |
| but conversely our energy use is increasing year on | | | | converting the kinetic energy into a usable mechanical |
| year, our fossil fuel use is now far from being | | | | energy. This is then turned into electrical energy |
| sustainable. Fossil fuels are also responsible for global | | | | through the use of a generator. The amount of |
| warming because of the carbon dioxide that is | | | | electricity is determined by how far the water falls |
| produced with the use of coal power stations and | | | | and the average water flow; some dams provide |
| other fossil fuel power stations. In order to stop a | | | | enough power for up to 10,000 people so it really is |
| further decline in the environment and to replace | | | | an effective form of creating energy for our homes. |
| non-renewable energy many different alternative | | | | It's highly unlikely that you have a good enough |
| power sources are being researched and | | | | source of running water running through your land |
| implemented. One such renewable energy source is | | | | that you could feasibly build a dam and add a |
| hydro energy and involves using water to turn | | | | generator and a turbine but even a small dam in a |
| turbines, which in turn generates electricity creating | | | | reasonable river can provide a good amount of |
| hydro energy. The theory is very similar to that of | | | | energy for local residents. A dam with a 10 foot drop |
| wind energy but instead of the wind turning the sails | | | | and average water flow of 500 cubic feet per |
| we use flowing water. | | | | second produces enough power to give |
| A brief history of hydropower. | | | | approximately 3,000,000kwh per annum; almost |
| The first ever water power station was in | | | | enough power for 1000 residents. |
| Godalming, England in 1881 introducing hydropower as | | | | The downfall of dams. |
| a source of electricity. Previously water turbines had | | | | Like many sources of green energy, hydro energy |
| only been used for pumping and irrigation but that | | | | has its downfalls; although there is only really one |
| has changed significantly now. While some countries | | | | downfall for hydro energy. The major obstacle to |
| have yet to hydro power stations that are efficient | | | | building dams and creating hydropower is people. |
| and make any significant difference to their energy | | | | Local residents don't want dams erected in the |
| usage, New Zealand among other countries produce | | | | middle of their local beauty spot so unless the |
| over 70% of its energy from hydro power stations. | | | | opinions of these people can be turned hydropower |
| Dams. | | | | won't be as popular as wind energy or solar energy. |