Hydroelectricity
We can generate hydroelectricity when rain water collected in a reservoir (or water in a pumped storage scheme) flows downhill. The flowing water drives turbines that turn electricity generators at the foot of the hill. A Hydroelectricity system is used all day and all night. At night they use leftover electricity to pump water back up to use again the next day
Hydroelectric energy is inexpensive. In the US, it costs an average of 0.7 cents (which is about 43p) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to produce hydropower.
Hydropower costs one-third the amount of fossil fuel and nuclear fuel, and one-sixth as much as natural gas. A hydropower plant can provide up to 90% efficiency throughout the year. This is generally applicable to the power plants in association with large dams. This is because, large turbines can be installed in large dams, and these dams have a strong flow of water consistently.
So, irrespective of the seasonal changes, the annual efficiency of around 85% to 90% can be achieved. The larger the dam, the better is the efficiency of hydroelectricity. Smaller dams generally have smaller turbines, and the intensity of the flow of water is also not consistent, so they have a lower efficiency. Few small hydropower plants are estimated to have an efficiency of just 50%. It can easily be stated that, hydropower generation is very efficient, but you can understand the significance of this efficiency, only when you compare it with the efficiency of other methods of energy generation.
Local habitats have to be destroyed to make room for the dams, they're considered to be eye sores. But they don't produce harmful emissions
Advantages: they can produce a lot of electricity on demand, they have unlimited fuel.
Disadvantages:
they are expensive to produce, take up large spaces in the countryside.
Hydroelectric energy is inexpensive. In the US, it costs an average of 0.7 cents (which is about 43p) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to produce hydropower.
Hydropower costs one-third the amount of fossil fuel and nuclear fuel, and one-sixth as much as natural gas. A hydropower plant can provide up to 90% efficiency throughout the year. This is generally applicable to the power plants in association with large dams. This is because, large turbines can be installed in large dams, and these dams have a strong flow of water consistently.
So, irrespective of the seasonal changes, the annual efficiency of around 85% to 90% can be achieved. The larger the dam, the better is the efficiency of hydroelectricity. Smaller dams generally have smaller turbines, and the intensity of the flow of water is also not consistent, so they have a lower efficiency. Few small hydropower plants are estimated to have an efficiency of just 50%. It can easily be stated that, hydropower generation is very efficient, but you can understand the significance of this efficiency, only when you compare it with the efficiency of other methods of energy generation.
Local habitats have to be destroyed to make room for the dams, they're considered to be eye sores. But they don't produce harmful emissions
Advantages: they can produce a lot of electricity on demand, they have unlimited fuel.
Disadvantages:
they are expensive to produce, take up large spaces in the countryside.