The “how To” Of Hydropower Plants

By Author: David Tanguay
Total Articles: 78
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Although hydropower plants may not seem like a hot commodity to some people, in reality they provide around 24 percent of the world's electricity. In addition, more than 1 billion people receive their power through these hydropower plants. Currently, in the United States there are over 2000 hydropower plants in operation, ranking this energy source as the biggest renewable energysource in the nation.

Using the energy that is produced by water, hydropower plants then convert this energy into electricity. A dam is used to hold the water back, while the gates on the dam subsequently release, allowing the water to flow through a pipeline that then leads to the turbine. The blades of the turbine begin to turn once the water hits them.

In addition to the turbine's blades, magnets that are positioned inside the generator also begin to rotate, producing alternative current. This alternative current is converted into a higher voltage current via the transformer. The water that has already been utilized is finally carried through more pipelines back to the river.

The advantageous aspect of hydropower plants ...
... are that they utilize a system that is naturally in place. As long as there is rain and, subsequently, rises in the river, these plants can continue to provide renewable energy.