Last updated on August 7th, 2023
It is fascinating to know that moving water can help to generate electricity. That power then runs all electric appliances in your home. Hydropower is one of the oldest methods of making life easier. Massive generators are placed in moving water to generate electricity and then carried to substations and our homes. It is also interesting to know that hydroelectric power is among the top five cleanest energy sources. Hydroelectric energy can also be produced on minor scales, so individuals close to a moving water source can generate electricity. There are many interesting facts to know about this renewable source of energy.
History of Hydroelectric Power
1. Hydropower has been used for many years in different forms before it was used to generate electricity. They were used to make life easier for people living along rivers, like grinding grain or generating heat to make steel.
2. Interesting innovations in methods to provide power by water were used in the China Han Dynasty of 202 BC. Hammers driven by vertical wheels were used to break ore and were even used in early paper making.
3. Ancient Romans and Egyptians used the power of flowing water to make water mills to irrigate their plants. It also provided aqueducts to populated areas for drinking water, washing, and cooking.
4. During the first century BC, horizontal wheels and new ways to use them came into the picture. These horizontal wheels provided more power and made water much more accessible to villages and settlements.
5. In 1878, the first hydroelectric project generated electricity to power a single lamp in a private home. It had to light a lamp in a country house in Cragside, Northumberland, England.
6. Progress in the advancement of hydroelectric power started as early as the 1700s. The French military and hydro engineer, Belidor, was the first author of Hydropower in 1737. His classic work contains four volumes about engineering and everything regarding hydropower plants.
7. As early as 1771, Richard Arkwright constructed Cromford Mill in Derwent Valley, England. This mill spun cotton and was the first factory system in the world that used Hydropower, a remarkable achievement.
8. The Francis turbine, named after the British-American engineer James Francis, is the first modern water turbine. Since its development in 1849, it remains one of the most popular turbines used in hydropower generators.
9. The first hydroelectric plant to generate electricity in the US started operating on 7 September 1893. It was built by the Redland power company in Mill Creek, California, and was also the first to generate three-phase AC power in the US.
10. The French engineer Benoit Fourneyron developed one of the first turbines as soon as 1827. This turbine was capable of generating six horsepower and was the forerunner of the modern Fourneyron reaction turbine.
11. Viktor Kaplan, an Austrian professor, developed the first turbine with adjustable blades in 1913. The turbine was powerful and could operate at very high speeds to produce electricity reliably.
12. Many hydro projects have been launched through the years since the first breakthrough in turbine development. In 1891, Germany produced the first-ever three-phase hydroelectric generating system. The largest hydroelectric power plant of the time was developed in Niagara Falls in 1895.
13. The 1800s and 1900s were the era for the development of hydroelectric power all around the globe. Many great inventions from the US to Europe were created and discovered about this renewable energy source.
Exciting Facts About Hydroelectric Power
14. Hydroelectric power plants currently generate more than 28 percent of all renewable electricity used in the USA. What is interesting is that these power plants come in all sizes, and some of them are pretty large.
15. Many dams worldwide are built to provide water for a hydroelectric power plant. Hydroelectric plants created by these dams will then provide electricity for many people in the area.
16. Almost all turbines used in hydroelectric power plants are based on the vertical water wheel used in ancient times. The water wheel was placed in the fast-flowing water to turn grinders and operate other implements.
17. The higher the elevation from where the water falls, the more electricity can be generated with a hydroelectric generator. The height or elevation of the water falling is known as the ‘head’ in hydropower generation engineering.
18. Every state in the US uses Hydropower plants to generate electricity for homes and businesses. The largest hydroelectric power generators are primarily in the western parts of the US.
19. Many different types and designs of turbines are used in generating Hydropower. The giant Reaction Turbine uses the combined forces of the water flow and pressure to generate electricity. Another type, the Propeller Turbine, has three to six blades that are constantly in contact with the water.
20. Fish ladders and elevators are devices used in hydroelectric systems to allow fish to move freely around dams. This is great for the many fish types to migrate to breeding zones easier and without harm.
21. Less than 2300 of the 90,000 dams in the US are currently producing electricity from hydro plants. This is not even three percent of the total dams in the US, allowing for a lot of potential.
22. In total, only about seven percent of all electricity produced in the US comes from hydroelectric plants. Fossil fuel electric generation plants produce the most electricity in the United States.
23. Hydroelectricity generation depends on the weather and climate in many cases around the world, also in the US. Places with extremely low temperatures during the winter or areas with droughts may have a considerable impact.
24. Hydropower is produced at a relatively lower cost than other electrical energy sources. Even though the upfront cost of erecting a hydropower plant is relatively high, generating electricity doesn’t require expensive fuel.
25. Mechanical power provided by the flowing water drives the turbine, generating electricity. Turbines come with a wide range of blade designs with different angles at which the water flows into it. When the water hits the blades, it turns the draft tubes, which turns the power generator located at the tip.
26. More than 70 percent of the electricity used in the state of Washington comes from hydroelectric power. That is about 31 percent of the total hydropower used by the whole of the US.
27. The largest hydropower plant currently in the world can be found in China in the Three Gorges Dam. It has a capacity of over 22,000 MW and can produce maximum output in no time.
28. Only four countries do more than 50 percent of all Hydropower produced worldwide. These countries are China, Brazil, Canada, And the United States.
29. As many as 90 percent of all electric power generated in Norway comes from Hydroelectric plants. Most of their electricity is produced by 20 large hydroelectric power plants spread all around the country.
30. Micro Hydro Plants can produce from as little as 10 KW and up to 100 KW electricity for more minor demands. They are ideal for isolated communities and developing countries as an affordable and sustainable solution.
31. Entire villages need to relocate when dams and hydropower generation plants are developed. While it may cause inconvenience, it may become a benefit in the future while providing opportunities for sustainable jobs. Development may impact the environment, plant life, animal habitats, and people.
32. Pumped storage works like a battery, storing potential electricity in a storage area for later use. This is done by holding water uphill from a second reservoir, and when released, it can create electricity.
33. The largest electrical storage facility in the US today is pump storage with roughly 21,000 MW of energy. It makes up more than 95 percent of the total power storage in the United States.
34. There are about 40 pumped storage hydropower generators in the US in use. It provides an excellent backup power solution in case other renewable energy generation methods fail to meet demands.
35. Niagara Falls was the first hydroelectric station that was successfully constructed in the US. In 1881, Charles Brush linked the generator that was driven by the falls to provide light for visitors.
36. The first commercial hydroelectric plant to generate electricity in the US was the one on the Fox River near Appleton in 1882. This was the first hydroelectric generator plant to sell electricity.
37. The United States currently has more than 1450 conventional hydropower generators in operation. Even with these many power stations in operation, it only provides for 7 percent of the national demand. While renewable energy is essential, it still has a long way to go to meet all energy demands.
38. Hydropower is more than 90 percent efficient in converting kinetic energy into electric energy. What is great about that is that the fuel to drive these power plants comes from nature and is entirely free.
39. By 1980, hydroelectric power capacity had nearly tripled compared to the beginning of the century. It led to a global interest in generating Hydropower as a means to provide electricity in many countries.
40. Tidal and wave energy is another form of Hydropower to generate electricity through the movement of the waves of oceans. The ocean’s tides create tidal power, while the movement of waves provides an abundance of kinetic energy.
41. Hydropower plants have a life expectancy of 60 to 100 years. This exceeds the expectancy of nuclear and other fossil fuel power plants. Some, like diesel power plants, last only about 20 years.
42. Four main types of hydropower generation plant technologies are currently in use. These hydropower plants are run-of-the-river, offshore, pumped, and pumped storage. Technologies that are mainly used are the pumped storage and pumped hydropower plants.
Benefits of Hydroelectric Power
43. A great benefit of hydropower generators is that they provide clean drinking water. That is because the stored water in the reservoir that is part of the system is clean and can be used for drinking and irrigation.
44. Technologies, like pumped storage power, can be used as a backup for other renewable power sources like solar and wind power. It will help at times when there is little to no wind available or days without sunshine.
45. Because it is an established industry in the United States, Hydropower can provide jobs in times when the economy dips. It currently employs more than 66,000 people, and the industry is still growing.
46. Hydropower, as mentioned, is affordable, and the price of electricity is likely to stay the same for a while. The long lifespan of a hydropower plant brings the overall cost of developing a new site down.
47. Some hydroelectric plants are very quick and efficient and can provide electricity without too much delay. They can go from zero to maximum power output in a very short time when it is needed.
48. Hydroelectric power can boost economies and create jobs for future generations. Those who are interested in becoming part of the hydropower industry can join development programs nationwide. The workforce of the hydropower industry can grow to more than double in the next ten years.
49. Because Hydropower relies on the water cycle, it is a renewable source of energy. The sun drives the water cycle in the natural water recycling process, making it a reliable and renewable source.
50. There are no carbon emissions from hydropower generators because the only fuel is clean water. No fossil fuel produces radioactive waste that needs to be taken care of or contaminate the environment.
51. Recreational facilities are created by the reservoirs constructed for hydropower plants. Fishing, boating, swimming, and other water sport facilities are some of the possibilities provided by these reservoirs.
52. In areas where floods occur, hydropower plants can help with flood control to protect property and people. Flood control will also help the agriculture of regions nearby and provide electricity simultaneously.
. . . continue reading on the next page