I. Introduction
A. Short history
II. Research of positive and negative aspects of hydroelectric power
A. Benefits of hydroelectric power
1. Renewable energy
2. Recreational area
3. Benefits for electricity grid
B. Negative side of hydroelectric power
1. Economy
2. Relocation
C. Current demand and energy production
III. Conclusion
A. Overview of positive and negative aspects
B. Summary
The Benefits of Hydroelectric Power
Idea of using hydro power is not new contrary it is quite old; more than two thousand years old. Ancient Greeks used water to power their watermills for grinding wheat into flower. Besides powering watermills hydro power was used in textile mills, heavy and wood industry. One of very important years in history of hydroelectric power and transformation water into electrical energy is 1882. as year when the first hydropower plant started with electricity production. That was a big step not only for Appleton, Wisconsin, where the power plant was built but also for whole world as a fresh step into energy revolution.
There are many positive aspects of using hydroelectric power as it stated by: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (U.S. Department of ENERGY) like:
“Hydropower is fueled by water, so it's a clean fuel source, meaning it won't pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. “
Built reservoirs or lakes can be used for different recreation activities as fishing, swimming, diving, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing or scuba diving. From technical side hydro power plants are very important because they can easily change production, from minimal to maximal production. And they are vital as electrical grid stabilizer, because reaction time is short and they can be used as back-ups. Accumulated water can be used for irrigation, water supply or as flood control.
There are many other benefits as: construction of dams is done with a great caution so that they last long and provide electricity for many years. It is great energy storage, ready to be used when we need it. It is possible to build reversible systems so that water is pumped back when production of electrical energy is greater than consumption. Lakes can be used as touristic attraction, vacation sites and leisure or education areas and so on.
There are also some negative sides of hydroelectric power as:
“Dams are extremely expensive to build and must be built to a very high standard. The high cost of dam construction means that they must operate for many decades to become profitable. The flooding of large areas of land means that the natural environment is destroyed.”
Most of dams are stated in mountains, people who are living in villages or towns that are into the valley before dam need to be moved out. That is very stressful because they will lose their homes, properties and sometimes people do not want to relocate. Unfortunately in some countries they are moved out by use of force and with some small compensation. Construction of huge dam can have tremendous effect on surrounding, nature or even cause serious geological damage.
It is obvious that building a dam is not easy job, that there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. Building a dam can influence not only the people who are living in close area but also a nature and local economy.
It is understandable that energy production has increased in last decades. Energy production has more than doubled from seventies compared to two thousand and eleven. “Respectively from 6109 Mtoe to 13113 Mtoe expressed as primary energy. And hydroelectric production has almost tripled rising from 1294 TWh to 3566 TWh for same period.” With growing demand it is typical that production is growing also.
As is stated before there are some beneficial and some less beneficial effects of hydroelectric production. Depending on geography position and wealth of water flows some countries use more of hydro potential some less. Common thing among these countries is that they all want to use it more, as source of cheap, reliable and most important renewable energy. It is well know that Norway is producing 99% of electricity by hydropower plants. Producing electricity in hydropower plant can be few times cheaper than production in thermo or nuclear power plant. In case of increased demand for electricity by simple opening water gates it is possible to increase electricity production. In case that there is no need for production or lower demand, for example at night when people are sleeping, by closing valves and dam gates it is possible to decrease electricity production. Earth’s hydrologic cycle naturally replenishes the "fuel" supply making it really renewable. Considering that water is natural resource, and that is domestic there is no need of warring about unstable prices, production strikes or concerns about transportation. By using water power we save a billions of tons of coal and tremendous amounts of oil by not burning them in thermo plants. On that way it is possible to keep air clean, not to produce waste that need to be taken away like ash from thermo power plants or nuclear waste from nuclear plants.
Producing more energy can lead to increased standard, like better heating or cooling, better illuminated cities, villages and roads. People will have good recreational areas, possibility to cycle, hike or swim. It is possible to attract tourists by building good infrastructure, providing them with nice place to stay and relax. By doing that it is possible to strengthen local economy, to open new working positions and further develop area.
And to summarize; it is always calculation between what we need, what we want and what we need to invest or sacrifice. For now use of hydroelectric is well spreader and reasonably approved considering that there are not better alternatives. Maybe in future there will be some superior solution, cleaner energy, with smaller impact on nature and surrounding. Use of renewable energy, clean air, good recreational areas and electricity is something that people are looking for and by using hydropower they can have it.
References
n.a. Benefits of hydropower. n.d. Retrieved: October 25, 2015: from http://energy.gov/eere/water/benefits-hydropower
n.a. Advantages and disadvantages of hydropower. n.d. Retrieved: October 25, 2015: from http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/hydr2.htm
n.a. Key world energy statistics. 2013. Retrieved: October 25, 2015: from http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/KeyWorld2013.pdf
