What are the advantages of hydro-electric power?

Answer 1

It's "fueled" by a natural process, rain. You don't have to go truck in railroad cars full of coal or pipe in petroleum products. As long as there is no severe drought (and it would have to be very severe, as such waterways typically have a lot of locks etc.) you have power. Since it neither adds nor subtracts from the water, it is nonpolluting.

Answer 2

Hydropower is a renewable energy source which can be environmentally neutral.

Conventional hydropower (dams, diversion, pumped storage), regarded as clean energy sources, may be superseded by emerging hydropower technologies (current, tidal, wave, thermal inversion) which would have minimal impact on the environment because they won't flood or divert the natural water flow.

It is very clean for the environment, it only uses flowing water to produce the energy.

• Does not depend on costs of uranium, oil, or other fuels
• Pollution is rarely created
• It doesn't require as many employees
• It can be set up in many sizes
• Stations can operate and run for long periods of time
• Reduces greenhouse emissions
• Relatively low maintenance costs
• Can be used throughout the world
• It is renewable
• Hydroelectricity produces no gas emissions or waste.
• Hydroelectric stations are inexpensive to operate.
• Makes barely any pollution compare to other ways of creating electricity
• Hydroelectric power is one of the most responsive (easy to start and stop) of any electric power generating source.
• The conversion of the forces of water to electric energy can be up to 90 percent efficient.
• Hydroelectric power produces no chemical or waste heat pollution.
• Hydroelectric power plants require little maintenance.
• Reservoir lakes can be used for recreation, and can provide considerable flood protection to downstream areas.
• Groundwater reserves are increased by recharging from reservoirs.
• Plants usually have an expected life span two to three times longer than conventional thermal power plants.
• Hydroelectric installations can be used to breed fish and other aquatic products
• It is more reliable than solar and wind power - because water can be stored and there is more of it, more often.Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.
• If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut, stopping electricity generation. The water can be saved for use another time when electricity demand is high. The build up of water in the lake means that energy can be stored until needed, when the water is released to produce electricity.
• Dams are designed to last many decades and so can contribute to the generation of electricity for many years / decades.
• The lake that forms behind the dam can be used for water sports and leisure / pleasure activities. Often large dams become tourist attractions in their own right.
• The lake's water can be used for irrigation purposes.
• When in use, electricity produced by dam systems do not produce green house gases. They do not pollute the atmosphere.
• Hydropower is a domestic source of energy, produced locally near where it is needed.
• Hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, thus it's a renewable power source so long as the rain keeps falling on the dam catchment area.
• Hydropower is generally available as needed; engineers can control the flow of water through the turbines to produce electricity on demand.
• Hydropower is not only a cleaner source of energy than oil but is it more cost effective as well. The most efficient coal burning plants are only able to convert around 50 percent of their energy into electricity, whereas modern day hydro power turbines convert up to 90 percent of their energy into electricity.
• Hydropower can cost less than a penny per kWh (Kilowatt Hour) compared to fossil fuel power plants at around 2 to 3 cents per kWh. That may not seem like a big difference, but when factored out over a year and the millions of kW hours Americans burn, it adds up to a huge savings.
• Hydropower plants also have an added bonus as they create recreational opportunities for people as well as electricity. Hydro power dams provide not only water-based activities, but since much of the surrounding land is public they also encourage numerous other outdoor activities aside from boating, skiing, fishing, and hunting.
• Hydropower plants provide benefits in addition to clean electricity. Hydro power plants create reservoirs that offer a variety of recreational opportunities, notably fishing, swimming, and boating. Most hydro power installations are required to provide some public access to the reservoir to allow the public to take advantage of these opportunities. Other benefits may include water supply and flood control.
• Can help regulate river flows (flood prevention), stores water, creates recreational lake (though these uses often conflict).

Answer 3

After the initial cost of construction, you get lots of power, essentially for free, in perpetuity.

Answer 4

It is a renewable energy source, it is not harmful to the environment, there are no Co2 emissions. No burning of any fossil fuels, or harmful chemicals. it is cheaper in the long run.

Answer 5

1. Renewable

2. No Carbon burn

3. High energy return on investment

4. Create habitat

5. Create recreational activities

6. Prevent flooding

Answer 6

once the dam is made it produces hydro emeidiatly!