What is hydroelectric power (facts) ?
Let’s start with the hydroelectric power definition:
In hydroelectric power
plants, the potential energy of water is converted into mechanical energy
which runs a generator.
- Hydraulic power is a naturally available renewable energy source.
- Power of a hydroelectric power station is given as: P = gρQH watts
- Where g = 9.81 m/s2, p = 1000 kg/m3, Q is the flow or discharge in m3/s, and H is the height of fall of water or head in m.
- The efficiency of the turbine-generator assembly in a hydroelectric power plant usually varies between 50% and 90%.
- Almost 20% of the total power requirement of the world comes from hydro power
- Countries like Norway and Switzerland are almost totally dependent on hydropower.
Advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power
Advantages of Hydro power plants :
Hydro power has a number of advantages:
- Water source is always available – no extra fuel is needed to be used to produce electricity
- The running costs of hydro power installations are very low.
- Hydro power is environmentally benign.
- The operation of Hydraulic turbine can be started or stopped in very short time.
- The hydraulic power plant is comparatively simple in concept and design.
- The operation of hydroelectric power plant is self-reliant.
- Hydro power stations are much more reliable in comparison with other power plants.
- Modern hydro power equipment has a life of nearly 50 years. With extraordinary maintenance the life can be increased to more than 50 years.
- Hydroelectric plant can handle the load very easily and thus they can be used as the ideal spinning reserve in an electrical system.
- Modern hydro-generators give high efficiency as well as handle a considerable range of load which helps improving the overall system efficiency.
- Manpower requirement is low; also the manpower need not be highly skilled
- The extra or bonus advantages of hydroelectric power are - they provide the means of irrigation and also contributes in flood control etc.
The disadvantages are:
- Cost of hydroelectric power is a matter of great concern. Hydropower projects are capital intensive with a low rate of return
- Annual cost of hydropower installations takes a big part of the annual interest of the capital.
- The growth period of hydroelectric power projects s quite large
- The foundation and completion of a hydro power project is very hefty. Ten to fifteen years may be needed to complete the project.
- Power generation is totally dependent on the quantity of water available, which may vary from season to season and year to year.
- These plants are often far away from the load center (most of the time in remote areas) and require long power transmission lines to deliver power — thus the cost of transmission lines are very high as well as losses in them are very significant.
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