Hydro Energy: About It & It’s Use

Hydro energy is electricity that has been generated by harnessing the kinetic energy of moving water.  Any force that produces rotational motion can be used to generate electricity – if you’ve ever had a dynamo generator for bicycle lights, you’ll know this.

Hydro energy uses the force of moving water to turn a specially adapted water wheel or turbine that is harnessed to a generator.  Hydro energy is a very clean and environmentally friendly form of energy production, as it does not require the use of fossil fuels, produces no carbon emissions and does not waste any non-renewable resources (the materials used for the infrastructure of a hydro energy dam or system are non-renewable, but they are very durable and long-lasting, so they are not wasted).

Hydro energy usually is generated in a specially designed dam with control gates to regulate the flow of water across the turbines.  Typically, when a hydro energy dam is constructed, a suitable river is dammed to form an artificial lake, or an existing lake with a river flowing out from it is dammed.  This does mean that some of the surrounding area will be flooded out as the lake levels rise or a new lake is created.  However, this is not always the case – one hydro energy system (Manapouri in New Zealand) manages to produce enough hydro energy to power a major aluminium smelter, several townships and many key tourist attractions but keeps the lakes involved in the system within the bounds of their natural levels. 

Hydro energy is a sustainable means of producing electricity, as long as a suitable lake or river with sufficient rainfall to maintain a constant supply of water for the turbines exists.  While creating a hydro energy dam may have some environmental impact by flooding out some of the habitat of local wildlife, the resulting artificial lake can provide a reliable source of water for wildlife, as well as providing a welcoming environment for aquatic life and wading birds.  People, too, can benefit from the artificial lakes, as these areas can be used for fish farming or for water sports (including fishing).  The dams themselves are usually constructed so fish cannot get into the turbines (which would damage both the fish and the turbines), and some of the warmer water coming out of the turbines can actually be beneficial for the fish and their growth.

Hydro energy is one of many ways of producing energy that should become more widely used as people around the world look for ways of meeting their energy needs without using fossil fuels or creating greenhouse gases.  Hydro energy is more suited to large-scale electricity production (main grid providers) rather than small-scale domestic electricity generation.