Should we allow more damming of rivers for hydroelectricity? This is a problem that is facing Mankind as we try and balance our need for electricity with environmental concerns. I believe that we should use hydroelectric power to fuel our society for now and the future. It has many advantages that have helped provide power for millions of people around the world.
Hydroelectric energy is made by utilizing the power of water. Hydro in Greek means water. People have harnessed the power of water for thousands of years. The Ancient Roman civilization built turbines that used wheels that were turned by flowing water. The power from these wheels ground up grains into flour that was then used to make bread. In the 1800’s water mills were used during the Industrial Revolution in England to make cotton. These famous mills in the north of England also generated energy that was used to cut wood and generate extreme heat to melt iron into steel.
History
The first hydroelectric power plant in the US was built on the Fox River in 1882. It was located in Appleton, Wisconsin and powered a home and two paper mills. Most hydroelectric plants work by creating a dam that creates a reservoir or lake. Turbines are built on the dam through which water passes generating electricity. The turbines are huge steel machines that allow the water to spin their fins creating electricity. The engineers regulate the water passing through the turbines depending on how much energy they need. If there is a lot of energy required they open all of the turbines and when less energy is needed they turn off some turbines.
When a dam gets too damaged from erosion and is beyond repair it must be removed. Engineers first have to empty the reservoir and then nature will reclaim it’s place on the inches of sediment that dams usually collect. Then humans speed up the process of recovery by planting local grasses.
Advantages
There are many advantages of using hydroelectric energy. First, it relies on water that is a clean and a renewable resource. It will never run out of its energy source unless a river is diverted or a glacier dries up. Reservoirs can provide a great recreational space for a community by creating a space for boating and fishing. People stock reservoirs with fish that can provide recreation or a fish resource such as the fish farms up on the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe.
Education.nationalgeograpic.com says, “Billions of people depend on hydroelectricity every day. It powers homes, offices, factories, and schools.” There are very few disadvantages to hydroelectricity, and it is one of the cleanest energy source we currently have. However some people argue that hydroelectric power provides too small a quantity of electricity for the amount of environmental damage it creates. It is true that dams have destroyed the wetland habitats of thousands of birds and insects. Also, dams slow down river flow whilst creating cold temperatures at the bottom, which alters the ecosystem of rivers and creates tons of silt build-up. But, all things considered, it is my view that these disadvantages are a small price to pay for years of clean energy that also helps the planet by slowing down global warming.
Our Future
Hydroelectric power is the energy that helps us make our environment safer (as compared to Nuclear power for example). It has many advantages over fossil fuels and is a re-usable resource. There are rivers all over that world that could be dammed to provide fuel the surrounding area. It has a much smaller negative impact than fossil fuels and is generally environmentally friendly.
Sources
http://greenthefuture.com/HYDROELECTRIC_PROSCONS.html
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/hydroelectric-energy/?ar_a=1
Image Link: HERE
Hydroelectric energy is made by utilizing the power of water. Hydro in Greek means water. People have harnessed the power of water for thousands of years. The Ancient Roman civilization built turbines that used wheels that were turned by flowing water. The power from these wheels ground up grains into flour that was then used to make bread. In the 1800’s water mills were used during the Industrial Revolution in England to make cotton. These famous mills in the north of England also generated energy that was used to cut wood and generate extreme heat to melt iron into steel.
History
The first hydroelectric power plant in the US was built on the Fox River in 1882. It was located in Appleton, Wisconsin and powered a home and two paper mills. Most hydroelectric plants work by creating a dam that creates a reservoir or lake. Turbines are built on the dam through which water passes generating electricity. The turbines are huge steel machines that allow the water to spin their fins creating electricity. The engineers regulate the water passing through the turbines depending on how much energy they need. If there is a lot of energy required they open all of the turbines and when less energy is needed they turn off some turbines.
When a dam gets too damaged from erosion and is beyond repair it must be removed. Engineers first have to empty the reservoir and then nature will reclaim it’s place on the inches of sediment that dams usually collect. Then humans speed up the process of recovery by planting local grasses.
Advantages
There are many advantages of using hydroelectric energy. First, it relies on water that is a clean and a renewable resource. It will never run out of its energy source unless a river is diverted or a glacier dries up. Reservoirs can provide a great recreational space for a community by creating a space for boating and fishing. People stock reservoirs with fish that can provide recreation or a fish resource such as the fish farms up on the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe.
Education.nationalgeograpic.com says, “Billions of people depend on hydroelectricity every day. It powers homes, offices, factories, and schools.” There are very few disadvantages to hydroelectricity, and it is one of the cleanest energy source we currently have. However some people argue that hydroelectric power provides too small a quantity of electricity for the amount of environmental damage it creates. It is true that dams have destroyed the wetland habitats of thousands of birds and insects. Also, dams slow down river flow whilst creating cold temperatures at the bottom, which alters the ecosystem of rivers and creates tons of silt build-up. But, all things considered, it is my view that these disadvantages are a small price to pay for years of clean energy that also helps the planet by slowing down global warming.
Our Future
Hydroelectric power is the energy that helps us make our environment safer (as compared to Nuclear power for example). It has many advantages over fossil fuels and is a re-usable resource. There are rivers all over that world that could be dammed to provide fuel the surrounding area. It has a much smaller negative impact than fossil fuels and is generally environmentally friendly.
Sources
http://greenthefuture.com/HYDROELECTRIC_PROSCONS.html
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/hydroelectric-energy/?ar_a=1
Image Link: HERE