Renewable
Energy -
Hydropower
Roa, Althea Shane C.
Rosales, Yancie W.
Saguin, Joel Bryan G.
Renewable Energy
• Energy derived from natural sources
that are replenished at a higher rate
than they are consumed. Sunlight and
wind, for example, are such sources
that are constantly being replenished.
• Renewable energy sources produce
little to no greenhouse gases, making
them crucial part of the solution to
climate change.
• One of the sources of renewable
energy is Hydropower.
Hydropower
• Hydropower harnesses the energy of
water moving from higher to lower
elevations. It can be generated from
reservoirs and rivers.
• Hydropower currently is the largest
source of renewable energy in the
electricity sector. It relies on
generally stable rainfall patterns, and
can be negatively impacted by
climate-induced droughts or changes
to ecosystems which impact rainfall
patterns.
• The infrastructure needed to create
hydropower can also impact
ecosystems in adverse ways. For this
reason, many consider small scale
hydro a more
How Hydropower Works
• It generates power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the
natural flow of a river or other body of water.
• It relies on the endless, constantly recharging system of the water
cycle to produce electricity, using a fuel-water that is not reduced or
eliminated in the process.
• It utilizes turbines and generators to convert that kinetic energy
into electricity, which is then fed into the electrical grid to power
homes, business, and industries.
How exactly is electricity
generated at hydropower plants?
• Since hydropower uses water to generate
electricity, plants are usually located on or
near a water source.
• The energy available from the moving
water depends on both the volume of the
water flow and the change in elevation
from one point to another. The greater
the flow and the higher the elevation, the
more the electricity that can be generated.
• At the plant level, water flows through a
pipe - also known as penstock - and then
spins the blades in a turbine, which, in
turn, spins a generator that ultimately
produces electricity.
Types of water resources used
Reservoirs Flowing water
Tidal currents and waves
Types of water resources used
01 Reservoirs - dams are used to store water in reservoirs,
which is then released to spin a turbine and generate
electricity
02 Flowing water - in run-of-river hydropower, water
from a river is channeled through a canal or penstock
to spin a turbine
03 Tidal currents and waves - offshore hydropower uses the
power of waves or tidal currents to generate electricity
from seawater
Main Components of a
Hydropower Plant
Types of Hydropower Systems
Run-of-river Hydropower:
• A facility that channels flowing water
from a river through a canal or
penstock to spin a turbine.
• Typically, a run-of-river project will
have little or no storage facility.
• Provides a continuous supply of
electricity, with some flexibility of
operation for daily fluctuations in
demand through water flow that is
Types of Hydropower Systems
Storage Hydropower:
• Typically a large system that uses a
dam to store water in a reservoir.
• Electricity is produced by releasing
water from the reservoir through a
turbine, which activates a generator.
• Provides base load as well as the ability
to be shut down and started up at a
short notice according to the demands
of the system.
• It can offer enough storage capacity to
Types of Hydropower Systems
Pumped Storage
Hydropower:
• Provides peak-load supply,
harnessing water which is cycled
between a lower and upper
reservoir by pumps which use
surplus energy from the system
at times of low demand.
• When electricity demand is high,
water is released back to the
lower reservoir through turbines
Types of Hydropower Systems
Offshore Hydropower:
• A less established but growing
group of technologies that use
tidal currents or the power of
waves to generate electricity
from seawater.
Advantages of Hydropower
• A clean source of energy since it is fueled by water.
• A domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce
its own energy without being reliant on international fuel
sources.
• Some hydropower facilities can quickly go from zero power
to maximum output which can provide essential backup
power during major electricity outrages or disruptions.
• Provides benefits beyond electricity generation by providing
flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
Advantages of Hydropower
• A clean source of energy since it is fueled by water.
• A domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce
its own energy without being reliant on international fuel
sources.
• Some hydropower facilities can quickly go from zero power
to maximum output which can provide essential backup
power during major electricity outrages or disruptions.
• Provides benefits beyond electricity generation by providing
flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
Disadvantages of Hydropower
• It can alter aquatic impact.
• It can flood previously dry areas.
• It may require the expropriation of land, leading to the
relocation of local communities.
• Changes in water quality.
• Susceptible to droughts.
Borcelle University
Thank
You
Presented by Juliana Silva
