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Hydropower (or waterpower) harnesses the energy of moving or falling water. This is usually in the form of hydroelectricity from a dam, but it can be used directly as a mechanical force. The term refers to a number of systems in which flowing water drives a hydraulic turbine or waterwheel. Prior to the widespread availability of commercial electricity, hydropower was used for milling, textile manufacture, and the operation of sawmills. Saint Anthony Falls is an example of a natural site with considerable potential for water power. During the last half of the 19th century, scores of grist mills were built at Saint Anthony Falls, taking advantage of the 50-foot drop in the Mississippi River. In the 1830s, at the height of the canal-building era, hydropower was used to transport barge traffic up and down steep hills using the technology of inclined plane railroads. Hydroelectric power now supplies about 715,000 MW or 19% of world electricity (16% in 2003). Large dams are still being designed. Apart from a few countries with an abundance of it, hydro power is normally applied to peak-load demand, because it is readily stopped and started. Nevertheless, hydroelectric power is probably not a major option for the future of energy production in the developed nations because most major sites within these nations with the potential for harnessing gravity in this way are either already being exploited or are unavailable for other reasons such as environmental considerations. Hydropower produces essentially no carbon dioxide or other harmful emissions, in contrast to burning fossil fuels or gas, and so is not a significant contributor to global warming through CO2. Hydroelectric power can be far less expensive than electricity generated from fossil fuel or nuclear energy. Areas with abundant hydroelectric power attract industry with low cost electricity. Recently, increased environmental concerns surrounding hydroelectric power, have begun to outweigh cheap electricity in some countries. Hydroelectricity is electricity obtained from hydropower. Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy source. The energy extracted from water depends not only on the volume but on the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow. In parts of Canada, hydroelectricity is used so extensively that the word "hydro" is used to refer to any electricity delivered by a power utility. Hydro-Québec is the world's largest hydroelectric generating company, with a total installed capacity of 31,512 MW. In places where thermal plants provide most electric power, hydro power plants provide the important functions of load following and regulation. This permits thermal plants to be operated steadily at their best efficiency point, rather than varying continuously, which reduces efficiency and increases emissions. Hydro plants provide hour-to-hour adjustments to follow the fluctuating load, with no additional economic or environmental effect. Oldest hydro-electric power stations
  • Crag side, Roth bury, England completed 1870.
  • Appleton, Wisconsin, USA completed 1882, A waterwheel on the Fox river supplied the first commercial hydroelectric power for lighting to two paper mills and a house.
  • Duck Reach, Launceston, Tasmania. Completed 1895. The first publicly owned hydro-electric plant in the Southern Hemisphere. Supplied power to the city of Launceston for street lighting.
  • Depew Falls 1, St. Catharine, Ontario, Canada completed 25 August 1898. Owned by Ontario Power Generation. Four units are still operational.
  • It is believed that the oldest Hydro Power site in the United States is located on Claverack Creek, in Scottville, NY 11721 . The turbine, a Morgan Smith, was constructed in 1869 and installed 2 years later. It is one of the earliest water wheel installations in the United States and also generated electricity. It is owned today by Edison Hydro.
Largest Hydro-electric power stations The La Grande Complex in Quebec, Canada, is the world's largest hydroelectric generating system. The eight generating stations of the complex have a total generating capacity of 16,021 MW.
Itaipú
 Brazil/Paraguay
 1984/1991/2003
 14,000 MW
 93.4 TW-hours
Guri
 Venezuela
 1986
 10,200 MW
 46 TW-hours
Grand Coulee
 United States
 1942/1980
 6,809 MW
 22.6 TW-hours
Sayano Shushenskaya
 Russia
 1983
 6,721 MW
 23.6 TW-hours
Robert-Bourassa
 Canada
 1981
 5,616 MW
Churchill Falls
 Canada
 1971
 5,429 MW
 35 TW-hours
Yaciretá
 Argentina/Paraguay
 1998
 4,050 MW
 19.1 TW-hours
Iron Gates
 Romania/Serbia
 1970
 2,280 MW
 11.3 TW-hours
Aswan
 Egypt
 1970
 2,100 MW
These are ranked by maximum power.

Countries with the most hydro-electric capacity

  • Canada, 341,312 GWh (66,954 MW installed)
  • USA, 319,484 GWh (79,511 MW installed)
  • Brazil, 285,603 GWh (57,517 MW installed)
  • China, 204,300 GWh (65,000 MW installed)
  • Russia, 169,700 GWh (46,100 MW installed) (2005)
  • Norway, 121,824 GWh (27,528 MW installed)
  • Japan, 84,500 GWh (27,229 MW installed)
  • India, 82,237 GWh (22,083 MW installed)
  • France, 77,500 GWh (25,335 MW installed)


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