How Hydroelectric Power Works

Hydroelectric power as an alternative to carbon producing energy sources is once again becoming a popular idea in the United States. The existing dams and rivers producing hydroelectric power are once again being looked at as a viable source of power.

How Hydroelectric Power Works
The way hydroelectric power works is that water falls due to gravity that causes kinetic energy to be converted into mechanical energy. This is turn can be converted into electrical energy for the power plants. When falling water spins turbines, it turns generators which produce energy.

The College of Earth and Mineral Studies at Pennsylvania State University has classified the plants according to size:

* Micros generate less than 100kW of electricity which can power 1-2 houses.
* Mini facilities can serve an isolated community or small factory by generating 100kW-1MW of electricity.
* Small plants generate 1MW-30MW and are capable of serving an area while supplying electricity to a regional grid.
* Large plants can produce more than 30MW of power.

An evaluation done the College in 2003, showed that hydroelectric power only accounted for about 10% of the total energy produced in the United States. It now has the potential to create 30,000MW of electricity by utilizing 5,677 undeveloped sites. According to Hydro Review magazine (USA Today 10/13/08), utilities are proposing more than 70 projects that would boost U.S. hydroelectric capacity by at least 11,000 megawatts or 11% over the next decade.