Hydroelectric Power

Co-finanziato
Dal Programma LLP dell’Unione Europea
Hydroelectric Power
Water has long been used as a source
of energy, since Greeks who used
water wheels over 2,000 years ago.
For over a century, hydropower has
been used to generate electricity
thanks to falling water and tides of
oceans.
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Use of hydroelectric power
Hydroelectric power stems from the process of
using water’s energy as it flows from higher to
lower elevation, rotating hydraulic turbines to
create electricity. Tidal power uses the same
principle to generate hydroelectricity.
The use of water to produce electricity is an
alternative to fossil fuels.
Advantages
• Hydropower is a clean, renewable source of
energy
• Emitting a very low level of greenhouse gases
• It can be highly automated once installed
thanks to a low operating cost
• The power is generally available on demand
since the flow of water can be controlled
Disadvantages
•Dams can block fish passage to spawning grounds or to the ocean
even if now many plants have measures to help reduce this impact
• The diversion of water can impact stream flow, or even cause a river
channel to dry out, degrading both aquatic and streamside habitats
•Hydroelectric plants can have an impact on water quality by
lowering the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water
•Sediments and nutrients can be trapped and the lack of water flow
can create a situation for undesirable growth and the spread of algae
and aquatic weeds
The technology must still overcome obstacles like space
requirements, building costs, environmental impacts, and the
displacement of people
CONSUMPTION OF HYDROELECTRICITY IN ITALY
REST OF THE
WORLD
ITALY
FRANCE
NORWA
Y
INDIA
RUSSIA
JAPAN
CANADA
BRASIL
USA
CHINA
HYDROPOWER CAPACITY INSTALLED IN 2011
Hydropower is
very common in
countries where
there is an
abundance of
rivers and lakes,
as in Canada
and in USA, in
Italy almost half
of renewable
energy is
produced by
hydroelectric
power.