Hydropower or hydroelectric power is one of the oldest and largest sources of sustainable energy, which uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. This article discusses hydropower energy, why it is important and how it works, and the market value of hydropower energy.
What is Hydropower?
Hydropower, often known as hydroelectric power, is a sustainable energy source that produces electricity by altering rivers or other bodies of water’s natural flow using a dam or different structure. Using a fuel—water—that is neither diminished nor lost in the process, Hydropower depends on the unending, constantly replenishing mechanism of the water cycle to generate energy. Hydropower turbines and generators transform this kinetic energy into electricity.
The history of Hydropower and hydroelectric power goes back thousands of years. The working out of the modern hydropower turbine began in the mid-1700s when a French pneumatic and military engineer.
“Hydropower is a clean and renewable energy source that provides affordable power throughout the country.” — Seth Moulton
What are the Catigories of Hydropower?
Hydropower can be divided into four basic categories:
- Run-of-river Hydropower
- Storage hydropower
- Pumped storage hydropower
- Offshore Hydropower
Run-of-river Hydropower is a system that uses a canal or penstock to direct flowing river water into a turbine.
Hydropower systems that employ a dam to store water in a reservoir are known as “storage hydropower” systems. Electricity is generated by discharging water from the reservoir via a turbine, which powers a generator.
Pumped storage hydropower generates peak-load electricity by using pumps that circulate water between a lower and a higher reservoir when the system’s excess energy is available during periods of low demand.
Offshore Hydropower is a less well-known but expanding class of technologies that uses the force of waves or tidal currents to produce energy from saltwater.
How does Hydropower work?
Hydropower technologies generate power by using the preference contrast, created by digression structure, of water flopping in on one side and out on the other. Hydropower facilities come in various shapes and sizes, but the kinetic energy of flowing water always propels them as it travels downstream. The electricity from Hydropower is subsequently used to power buildings, companies, and other establishments.
“Turbines designed for low-flow situations would be wasteful in times of high water. Turbines designed for high efficiency at, say, five hundred cubic feet per second might be ineffective in times of low water. Under certain conditions, turbines can go into a state of cavitation, wherein vaporizing water creates bubbles that implode on the metal and riddle it with tiny holes. The ideal turbine for a little mill up a creek somewhere in inconsistent country would be one that was prepared to take whatever might come, to sit there and react calmly in any situation, to respond evenly to wild and sudden demands, to make the best of difficult circumstances, to remain steadfast in time of adversity, to keep going, above all to press on, to persevere, and not vibrate, fibrillate, vacillate, cavitate, or panic – in short, to accept with versatile competence what is known in hydroelectrical engineering as the run of the river.” ― John McPhee, Silk Parachute
What are Underground Surface and Powerhouse?
A surface or subsurface power plant positioned far downstream to benefit from the river’s steep gradient between the dam and the tailrace. The main determinants of location choice are the project setting, site factors, and economic considerations.
In contrast to the more typical surface-based construction techniques, an underground power station is a form of hydroelectric power station built by excavating the principal components (such as the machine hall, penstocks, and tailrace) from rock.
Why is Hydropower important?
The advantage of HydropowerHydropower has been recognized for thousands of years. In addition to being a pure form of energy, hydropower plants can directly provide power to the grid, serving as flexible and reliable backup power during major electricity outages.
Hydropower also produces several advantages outside electricity generation, such as flood control, sprinkling support, and water supply.
“In a typical year, Hoover Dam will generate about 4.5 billion kilowatt hours of energy,” said Mark Cook, Manager of the iconic Hoover Dam. “With the lake being the way it is now, it’s more like 3.5 billion kilowatt hours.”
How are growing global Hydropower markets?
According to Precedence Research, The estimated global hydropower market size was USD 236.4 billion in 2021. It is expected to surpass USD 371.8 billion by the end of 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.16% from 2022 to 2030 [1].
Key market players leading the Hydroenargy industry may include Siemens Energy, General Electric (GE), Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, FLOVEL Energy Private Limited, ANDRITZ, Natel Energy, Gilkes, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, SNC-Lavalin Group, Kolektor, Mavel, a.s., and Canyon Hydro.
