How much energy does a hydroelectric power produce each year?
the amount of energy a hydropower plant produces depends on two factors:1-how far the water falls2-Amount of water flowing in the river.ExempleFrom talking to person who operates the dam in our area, we learn that the dam is 10 feet high, so the water falls 10 feet.We contact the United States Geological survey, the agency in the U.S. that measures river flowing, and learn that the average amounr of wather flowing in our river is 500 cubic feet per second.For the dam in our area lets say we buy a turbine and generator with an efficiency of 80%. FormulaPower=(height of dam).(river flow).(Efficiency)/11.8Power: the electric power in kilowatts height of dam :the distance that the water falls measured in feetriver flow: the amount of water flowing in the river measured in cubic feet per second.efficiency:how well the turbine and generator convert the power of falling water into electric power. for older ,poorly maintained hydroplants this might be 60%(0.60) while newer hydroplants this might be as high as 90%(0.90).11.8: convert units of feet and second into kilowatts then the powe for our dam will be.Power=(10 feet).(500 cubic feet per second).(0.80)/11.8Power=339 kilowattsand the energy in a year will beEnergy=power.(time)energy=(339 kilowatts).(24 hours per day).(365 days per year)energy=2969640 kilowatts.hours