Hydro Electricity

Hydro means water, thus hydroelectric is energy created from a water source, most often a river Hydroelectricity is an extremely importance resource for Canada, and for the North We export much of this power to the United States

Benefits Hydroelectricity is beneficial over nuclear and coal-burning power plants because: 1) it’s renewable (we will probably never run out of water) 2) it’s cleaner on the environment (few greenhouse gases) 3) it’s safer (nuclear disasters, explosions)

How is Hydroelectricity created? The two most important factors determining construction of a hydroelectric project are: 1) Speed of the water 2) the volume of the river (amount of water) Sometimes if the river does not provide sufficient speed or volume, thus a dam is built.

1) Water is backed up behind a reservoir to create the sufficient mass of water needed 2) Tubes called penstocks carry the water to the turbines, which are spun really fast by the water 3) The turbines are connected to a generator, which transmits the electricity created to transmission lines Eventually it makes its way to the cities and towns *See handout

Hydroelectricity in MB We get 95% of our electricity this way, which is why we are known as the “Hydro Province” The Nelson River is the #1 Hydro river responsible for 75% of the electricity generated in MB. The Winnipeg River is the #2 River for Hydro. Manitoba Hydro exports electricity to the US, Ontario and Saskatchewan. $$ is brought into MB from abroad, with benefits such as: MB’s electricity rates are cheaper More $$ generated means lower taxes National Geographic info and video