Hydroelectric+Power+(Alex+and+Emily)

=__Hydroelectric Power__= = = =How it Works= Hydropower plants harness water’s energy and then convert it into electricity. First water flows through a dam. Gates open and gravity pulls water through a penstock which is a pipeline that leads to a turbine. The water hits the turbine and consequently turns the blades and a series of magnets inside a generator. The rotating magnets rotate copper coils and produces alternating current. Finally, the powerhouse converts the alternating current to a higher-voltage current. Video clip: [] Sources:[] []

=Advantages and Disadvantages= Many advantages of hydroelectricity have been brought to light, especially since climate change has been an important and controversial topic.Hydropower is not burned, which is a clear environmental advantage. Furthermore, low costs for operations and maintenance make this source of renewable more feasible than other options. Finally, this source is truly renewable; rain naturally restocks the supply of renewable energy by filling up dams. However, not all aspects of hydropower are positive, just like any other energy source. While rainfall restocks our supply of potential renewable energy in a nature-friendly way, this also means that we are dependent on rainfall to use hydroelectricity. This may also cause some detrimental effects to nature, such as changes to fish habitats and stream water quality. Finally, if hydropower was widely used, both animals and people would have to be displaced. While not perfect, however, hydropower's advantages may weigh out its disadvantages, especially considering that many types of energy result in some sort of habitat disruption. Three Gorges Dam: an example of the possible disadvantages of power derived from dams Sources: U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov) =Controversy= - Recently, the Chilean government approved a major hydropower plant project to meet Chile’s shortage in energy generation. This project would entail the construction of five hydroelectric power plants which many people argue would disrupt the natural environment. Recent polls show that most Chileans oppose the project due to high costs (it would cost billions to finish), time (it is expected to take five decades to complete), and environmental hazards (though technically an environmental impact study still has to be drawn up). Most would prefer that the government turn to solar or wind energy to meet growing demands and have taken to the streets to protest. [] - Canada is facing similar issues in their plans to build two new hydropower plants (which would benefit New York State as well). Citizens would prefer for the government to turn to solar or wind energy; however, the government argues that it would take years to harness enough local, renewable energy to feed the region’s “huge appetite for electricity.” Supporters of the project are in favor of the low amounts of carbon this energy source uses (as fossil fuels are believed to be heavily affecting the region with later winters and more rainfall). []



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[] =Where it is Used= Hydroelectricity is the most widely used renewable source of energy, providing for about 7-10% of the world's energy. China is the largest consumer of hydroelectric power, followed by Canada, Brazil, and the United States. China is also the largest producer, with around 80,000 dams around the country, most of which were built after 1949 (despite the fact that power from water is one of the oldest sources of controlled energy). 22,000 of these are considered "large dams," which means they are over four stories tall. The U.S. has about 75,000 dams. Proponents of hydroelectricity say that the United States should greatly increase its production and consumption of hydroelectric power in place of nonrenewable sources of energy. Source: U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov) and Energy Information Administration (eia.gov) ==