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Thousands of years ago, the Greeks used water wheels to grind wheat and saw wood. However, much has progressed since then. The modern hydropower turbine evolved with the contributions of French military engineer Bernard Forest de Bélidor in the 1770s. By the 1880s, not only were the city lamps of Niagara Falls powered by water, but the first hydropower plant was established in Wisconsin. From that point up until the 1940s when it was at 40%, the electrical generation for the country due to hydropower grew rapidly. However, America has shifted back to the use of fossil fuels for the past several years, with hydropower now only making up 10% of total energy generation (“Wind and
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Small hydroelectric systems are not expensive to build, do not require forceful water flow, and provide a large amount of energy. Hydroelectric systems also provide many stronger benefits than other natural reusable energy systems such as a being able to work for several years without needing to be replaced, and a high cost to saving ratio between the money spent to make it and the money saved on energy by having it (Froese). Hydroelectric systems are the only systems that have a continuous alternative energy source (“Hydro Products”). It has been reported that a micro hydroelectric plant may pay for itself in only 15 years (Froese).
Most small hydroelectric systems do require to be close to the area that will use the power. The amount of energy possible to collect is dependent on two main variables, the size of the water source along with the speed of the water flow. Systems can range in efficiency between 50 and 90 percent, but for a smaller system it is closer to the lower end of the scale. They can also be located on any kind of body of water and create no harmful environmental effects. Hydro systems create no waste products and do not pollute the water or air (“Hydro …show more content…
It is very similar to the way wind turbines work, in that it uses the natural flow of water to transform potential energy to kinetic energy that can be used as electricity. Wave energy is one of the newest advances in this type of generation. These systems use the natural motion of the waves in the ocean to create electricity. An example of this kind of system is currently being used by Ocean Power Technologies, a New Jersey-based developer, that has launched a project that features the nation’s first commercial wave power farm off the coast of Reedsport, Oregon ("America’s Premiere Wave Power Farm Sets Sail"). This system uses the vertical up and down movement of the waves and creates it into a circular motion with a hydraulic pump. This motion creates energy through an electric generator that produces electricity which is then sent to shore through submerged
Small hydroelectric systems are not expensive to build, do not require forceful water flow, and provide a large amount of energy. Hydroelectric systems also provide many stronger benefits than other natural reusable energy systems such as a being able to work for several years without needing to be replaced, and a high cost to saving ratio between the money spent to make it and the money saved on energy by having it (Froese). Hydroelectric systems are the only systems that have a continuous alternative energy source (“Hydro Products”). It has been reported that a micro hydroelectric plant may pay for itself in only 15 years (Froese).
Most small hydroelectric systems do require to be close to the area that will use the power. The amount of energy possible to collect is dependent on two main variables, the size of the water source along with the speed of the water flow. Systems can range in efficiency between 50 and 90 percent, but for a smaller system it is closer to the lower end of the scale. They can also be located on any kind of body of water and create no harmful environmental effects. Hydro systems create no waste products and do not pollute the water or air (“Hydro …show more content…
It is very similar to the way wind turbines work, in that it uses the natural flow of water to transform potential energy to kinetic energy that can be used as electricity. Wave energy is one of the newest advances in this type of generation. These systems use the natural motion of the waves in the ocean to create electricity. An example of this kind of system is currently being used by Ocean Power Technologies, a New Jersey-based developer, that has launched a project that features the nation’s first commercial wave power farm off the coast of Reedsport, Oregon ("America’s Premiere Wave Power Farm Sets Sail"). This system uses the vertical up and down movement of the waves and creates it into a circular motion with a hydraulic pump. This motion creates energy through an electric generator that produces electricity which is then sent to shore through submerged