A New Spin on Energy

What is hydroelectric Power? A way to use the force of falling water to create electrical energy At its base is the conservation of energy, from gravitational potential energy to electrical energy

How does it work?

How does the dam work? Controls the flow of water through the generators to create an organized flow of power producing water. Generator works on the idea of a rotating magnetic field create a rotating electric field, thus creating alternating current

Parts of a dam Penstock Reservoi r Generator Turbine

Benefits of dams Create more power and is more reliable than solar and wind energy Clean, renewable Dams are a big cost, however once created they create cheap energy 2400 of the nation’s 8000 dams are hydroelectric Most dams are multipurpose: flood control, water supply, irrigation, recreation, transportation, refuges for wildlife

Hydroelectric use 1 kW·h, 3412 BTU

Hydroelectric power use Hydroelectric power is concentrated mostly in the Pacific Northwest because it provides the best locations 63 % of hydropower comes from the Northwest 7% of US energy budget is devoted to hydroelectric power, but it is decreasing Hydroelectric dams create 9% of the nation’s electricity

Hydroelectric power use 49% of renewable energy Creates enough energy to provide for 28 million households

Hoover Dam

Hoover dam Dam building started during the depression, which is when most dams began being built April 30, 1931 – March 1, 1936 Original Cost: $49 million Inflated Cost: $676 million Average energy created between 1947 and 2005: 4.4 billion kW hours. Maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation

$$MONEY, MONEY, MONEY $$ Expensive to build Hoover dam = $676 million

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Changes in elevation High precipitation

JUST KEEP SWIMMING, SWIMMING Salmon population is declining Migration is disturbed Pacific Northwest of North America Food chain is affected: no more yummy fish!

Steps taken to protect the fish Fish ladders “fish-friendly” turbines Screens

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES Flooding: 1) Controlling 2) Creating Deforestation Carbon Dioxide Methane gas Global Warming