Renewable Energy Education: Hydropower
Hydropower is widely used to generate electricity. Sunlight gives water in oceans, lakes and rivers the energy to evaporate, and then this water falls back to earth as rain or snow. We can then obtain energy from the water as it flows back down to lakes and oceans.
Low Impact Hydropower:
Most hydropower in the United States comes from large hydroelectric dams. Some of these dams flood canyons, destroy scenic vistas, block fish migrations, and cause other environmental problems. Low impact hydropower facilities have far less environmental impact.
The following are some web sites on this topic:
- Low Impact Hydropower Institute
- California Energy Commission - Hydroelectric Power
- Green-e - What is Hydropower?
- BCHydro
Micro Hydropower:
While most hydropower is used to generate electricity in very large amounts at very large dams, small systems, such as "run of river" systems, can also generate electricity. Visit the following web sites for information on small hydropower: