Hydroelectric Energy :: essays research papers

Hydroelectric energy potentially is the result of a fortunate coincidence in which nature and the need to modernize, are combined together in an on- going cycle. The cycle being evaporated, precipitation and concentration. Having water, though, does not necessarily mean having hydroelectric potential. To be in usable form, that water must be in continuous supply, accessible and concentrated in rivers with a volume flows and a descent rate, sufficient to drive generating turbines. The only way that this system would become non-renewable would logically be if the lakes, rivers and streams dried up, therefore the resource of water becoming unavailable. The likeliness of this happening in our lifetime is next to nothing, especially in Ontario and Quebec. These areas have and abundance of lakes and down-falling rivers. Availability The availability of water in this area of the world is great. Being able to have water flowing on a downward slope is another story. It is useless if it is not flowing. The steeper the water flows, the more electricity it will produce. Hydroelectric plants can be turned into what are called peaking units in areas where power plants and high populations exist. That is because electricity demand in an area can vary widely over a period of time, sources that can easily be turned on or off are needed to meet demand peeks. Environmental Concerns Large dame change a self-regulating ecological system into one that must be managed. Placed on a river without thought to their upstream and downstream impacts they can bring disaster. Because lakes cannot survive some of the abuses that rivers can, traditional farming and waste disposal practices must be changed. The dams themselves can be threatened by the silting of reservoirs caused by soil erosion, which may destroy a dams ability to store water and generate energy. Dams can endanger little known plant and animal species. Many tropical plants or animals with potentially high economic value will be lost forever if dam reservoirs are built, because so many tropical species have be yet to be named. Even where threatened species have been indented, pressure to destroy their habitats can be irresistible. Where fish species migrate long distances to breed, dams can decrease their stocks. The Columbia river salmon fisheries in North America declined sharply after dams were built there, despite programs to build fish ladders and restock the river. How much is there? In different areas of the world, water can range to an abundance of it, to none at all. With the hydrologic cycle there will always be the same amount of water on Earth. It will just be distributed differently throughout the biosphere. Hydroelectricity can not be created unless there id Hydroelectric Energy :: essays research papers Hydroelectric energy potentially is the result of a fortunate coincidence in which nature and the need to modernize, are combined together in an on- going cycle. The cycle being evaporated, precipitation and concentration. Having water, though, does not necessarily mean having hydroelectric potential. To be in usable form, that water must be in continuous supply, accessible and concentrated in rivers with a volume flows and a descent rate, sufficient to drive generating turbines. The only way that this system would become non-renewable would logically be if the lakes, rivers and streams dried up, therefore the resource of water becoming unavailable. The likeliness of this happening in our lifetime is next to nothing, especially in Ontario and Quebec. These areas have and abundance of lakes and down-falling rivers. Availability The availability of water in this area of the world is great. Being able to have water flowing on a downward slope is another story. It is useless if it is not flowing. The steeper the water flows, the more electricity it will produce. Hydroelectric plants can be turned into what are called peaking units in areas where power plants and high populations exist. That is because electricity demand in an area can vary widely over a period of time, sources that can easily be turned on or off are needed to meet demand peeks. Environmental Concerns Large dame change a self-regulating ecological system into one that must be managed. Placed on a river without thought to their upstream and downstream impacts they can bring disaster. Because lakes cannot survive some of the abuses that rivers can, traditional farming and waste disposal practices must be changed. The dams themselves can be threatened by the silting of reservoirs caused by soil erosion, which may destroy a dams ability to store water and generate energy. Dams can endanger little known plant and animal species. Many tropical plants or animals with potentially high economic value will be lost forever if dam reservoirs are built, because so many tropical species have be yet to be named. Even where threatened species have been indented, pressure to destroy their habitats can be irresistible. Where fish species migrate long distances to breed, dams can decrease their stocks. The Columbia river salmon fisheries in North America declined sharply after dams were built there, despite programs to build fish ladders and restock the river. How much is there? In different areas of the world, water can range to an abundance of it, to none at all. With the hydrologic cycle there will always be the same amount of water on Earth. It will just be distributed differently throughout the biosphere. Hydroelectricity can not be created unless there id