Hydroelectricity Zack Carlstrom Will Mathews Allison Cheney Andrew Flynn Stacy Janus A Presentation by:

Hydroelectric Power- The Basics Hydro- electric power makes up 15% of the world’s generated power Hydro- electric power makes up 15% of the world’s generated power Hydroelectric power makes up only 6% of America’s total power, while it makes up 30% of Canada’s total power

Hydroelectric Power- The Basics Hydro- electric power is generated by running water Hydro- electric power is generated by running water

How is hydropower generated? Magic Magic

But Seriously… Hydropower is generated by the controlled flow of running water through dams and turbines, which generates the electricity Hydropower is generated by the controlled flow of running water through dams and turbines, which generates the electricity

Here’s a close-up look

Here’s an even closer look The Turbine Cue The Turbine Cue Wow demonstration Wow demonstration

Initial Setup Costs They are extremely high, higher than most other power production forms They are extremely high, higher than most other power production forms Many homes are uprooted due to the damming of rivers Many homes are uprooted due to the damming of rivers Costs include buying land, displacement, engineering and construction Costs include buying land, displacement, engineering and construction Hydro stations take an extremely large time to plan and build Hydro stations take an extremely large time to plan and build

Long Term Operation Costs A kilowatt hour costs only 3 cents, four times cheaper than average A kilowatt hour costs only 3 cents, four times cheaper than average That’s hella cheap! That’s hella cheap! It’s also renewable! It’s also renewable! The flow of rivers=cheap The flow of rivers=cheap Plants stay operational for an extremely long time with little maintenance Plants stay operational for an extremely long time with little maintenance

Short term pollution Very high, due to the difficult production process Very high, due to the difficult production process Less developed countries tend to have more pollution Less developed countries tend to have more pollution

Long Term Pollution Relatively low- no fossil fuels used Relatively low- no fossil fuels used However, high levels of methane are produced in tropical areas due to environmental conditions surrounding the displacement of water However, high levels of methane are produced in tropical areas due to environmental conditions surrounding the displacement of water

Environmental Impacts HUGE AND HORRIBLE HUGE AND HORRIBLE Water quality downstream mutilated Water quality downstream mutilated Natural habitats destroyed Natural habitats destroyed Disruption of migration patterns Disruption of migration patterns

More environmental impacts Hydroelectric power destroys boating environments. Hydroelectric power destroys boating environments. Rivers can become unusable Rivers can become unusable BUT BUT Reservoirs created can be used for other watersport activities Reservoirs created can be used for other watersport activities Increases fish catching possibilities Increases fish catching possibilities Improves local irrigation systems Improves local irrigation systems

More environmental impacts Flooding is major concern. Flooding is major concern. Quick changes in water levels can be dangerous to both people and animals Quick changes in water levels can be dangerous to both people and animals

Availability Only usable on rivers Only usable on rivers Many rivers already have dams or laws prohibiting use Many rivers already have dams or laws prohibiting use Power can be easily transported Power can be easily transported Not all areas can afford a hydro plant Not all areas can afford a hydro plant

How hydro doesn’t stack up Dam failures are rare but deadly Dam failures are rare but deadly The sites that can be economically developed for hydro-electric production are limited The sites that can be economically developed for hydro-electric production are limited New sites can be far from population centers and require long transmission lines New sites can be far from population centers and require long transmission lines Dependant on rainfall or snowmelt Dependant on rainfall or snowmelt Can fail on low or high water level periods Can fail on low or high water level periods

How does hydro stack up? Has a predictable rate of production – wind power does not Has a predictable rate of production – wind power does not No nuclear waste No nuclear waste No fossil fuels used in process of production No fossil fuels used in process of production Source is renewable Source is renewable Once built, energy is virtually free Once built, energy is virtually free

How does hydro stack up? Water can be stored above the dam so it can cope with peaks in demand Water can be stored above the dam so it can cope with peaks in demand HYDRO is better! HYDRO is better! Most popular renewable resource Most popular renewable resource