Keller.MMASpring2010.Energy.Water


 * HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWERs**

BY: CAMERON KELLER

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 * [[image:hydro_power.jpg width="259" height="178"]][[image:niagara_falls-12440.jpg width="240" height="194" align="right"]] What is the problem at hand ? **

1. The issue that faces our country today is an issue of energy and the means to gather alternate sources of this energy. It is well known by many people that our Earth’s fossil fuel supply is running low and different means of energy production need to be met. The United States has the most energy consumption of any other nation in the world and as a country we need to lead and set an example for other countries to follow. - Mahesh Sagar


 * What is the driving force of this problem? **

The driving reason for this issue is the fact that people cannot grasp the concept that the Earth only has so much oil and coal and eventually that supply line will run out. Consumer’s don’t realize that there are plenty of other sources that are renewable and all we need to do as a society is invest in them. A small amount of money extra for a renewable source will prove its worth tenfold over time.

70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water and it is a very powerful source of energy. Naturally running water is incredibly powerful and when harnessed can produce massive amounts of electricity. Hydro-Electric power is more common today than in the past but more needs to be done to utilize this asset. Dams, and underwater turbines are great ways that people are harnessing the power of water now.
 * What are people currently doing to solve this problem? **

Hydro-electric power works by utilizing the weight and pressure of water in order to generate electricity. The process of damming lakes and rivers is so the water pressure and weight can build up and quickly make its way through the damn itself. When water enters a dam it usually enters at an intake area at the base of the dam. From there the water passes under the dam and through turbines that are directly connected to a generator. From the generators the newly made electricity goes to the plants transformers and finally distributed throughout the power grid.
 * How it Works **
 * __Dams__**

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Another type of hydro-electric technology is the underwater turbine. This is a fairly new technology that was developed by utilizing technology already in place. Wind turbines use areas of high wind to generate electricity and underwater turbines use the same type of technology with tides and rivers. Underwater turbines are set in rivers or coastal regions with rapidly flowing water or tidal cycles. When the water passes through the turbines it causes the generator to spin which is turned into electricity by the transformers.
 * __Underwater Turbines__**




 * __Current Examples of Underwater Turbines__**

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There are little to no CO2 emissions when dealing with under water turbines but Hydro-Electric plants produce about .5% of the worlds Carbon Dioxide released into the atmosphere.
 * CO2 Emissions? **


 * How much energy can be created? **

The largest hydro-electric plant in the world is located at The Three Gorges Dam in China and it produces some astonishing numbers because it is all renewable energy. This Dam alone produced 20% of the World’s electricity in 2006. This number is incredibly impressive because of the fact that nuclear energy, and burning fossil fuels puts out massive amounts of electricity. It is very hard for renewable energy sources to compete with contemporary methods, however hydro-power is on the cutting edge of producing the most electricity for your dollar.

** Some of the best aspects of Hydro-Power **

Some of the best aspects of hydro-electric technology is the fact that it is a renewable source. The fact that little to no emissions are emitted from this technology make it such an appealing means of energy. When the supply of fossil fuels runs out the only other means of gathering energy will be wind, nuclear, and hydro. While nuclear is efficient it does produce waste, wind produces no waste but does not gather as much energy as nuclear. The only way to get both efficiency and no waste is with hydro power. Hydro power has been praised by thousands of scientists as the best way to produce electricity. When it comes to underwater turbines Roger Bedard, an EPRI researcher who has studied water current-based energy generation says, “Verdant went with a design that looks like a conventional wind machine- an open rotor with three blades.” This means big energy companies are buying into this technology because it is the clean energy of the future.

**What to do next?** In my opinion I would put more money into the hydro-electric technology because as I have stated before there is only a certain amount of non-renewable resources left in the world. With more funding the hydro-electric technology can grow tenfold and the fact that it has little to no emissions is one of the most appealing qualities. Hydro-electric is already supplying 20% of the world’s electricity and if helped along can become the leading energy supplier. Replacing fossil fuels is an essential aspect that people have been struggling with for quite some time. Our planet it is covered in flowing water and we have yet to harness its power.

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