HYDROPOWERHYDROPOWER

A HydroPowerPoint!A HydroPowerPoint!

By Olivia

Where are Hydropower Plants?Where are Hydropower Plants?

A A HydroHydropower plant must be located on a power plant must be located on a body of body of waterwater..

They are on rivers, lakes, and streams.They are on rivers, lakes, and streams. Many of the world’s largest Many of the world’s largest hydrohydropower power

plants are located in Canada, Russia, and plants are located in Canada, Russia, and Brazil.Brazil.

There are 80,000 hydropower plants in the There are 80,000 hydropower plants in the worldworld

How Much Energy Do They How Much Energy Do They Give Us?Give Us?

Hydropower plants generate Hydropower plants generate a 24% of the world’s energy a 24% of the world’s energy

andand

12% of the U.S.’s12% of the U.S.’s

water

Turns the turbine

Goes through dam

Generates electricity

Water continues down the river

Electricity goes through power lines to our school!

Pros & ConsPros & Cons

ProsPros Produces inexpensive and Produces inexpensive and

clean electricity. clean electricity. They rarely break down. They rarely break down. The dams can be shut The dams can be shut

down quickly if needed.down quickly if needed. Controls floodingControls flooding Makes a place to fish, Makes a place to fish,

swim, and sail if the water swim, and sail if the water isn’t already being used for isn’t already being used for drinking drinking

Renewable energy sourceRenewable energy source Design makes it easy to Design makes it easy to

repairrepair

Cons

•Requires flooding of entire valleys

• If there is a large flash flood, dams can break.

•Ecosystems can be destroyed

•Plant decay near dams creates as much greenhouse gasses as conventional power plants.

Bibliography• www.mms.gov• www.personal.psu.edu• http://www.energy4me.org/sources/Hydropower.htm\• http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/hydro/• http://drake.marin.k12.ca.us/stuwork/rockwater/Upload%20this%20doc--dams%20and

%20hydropower%20report/pros%20and%20cons.html