Water has long been used as a source of water, and hydropower takes the energy from moving water ways to convert it into usable forms of energy.
Current Uses
In 2008, hydroelectricity accounted for 7% of the total US utility electricity generation and 41% of the renewable energy sources electricity generation. Its portion of the percentage of US electricity generation has decreased historically, because other technologies are being developed and growing.
Cost
In the United States, hydropower costs approximately 0.85 cents per kWh. Leading countries for hydropower production are Canada, the United States, Former USSR, Brazil, and China, in that order respectively.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Benefits to hydropower:
- It is efficient, converting 90% of captured energy into usable power
- Once dams are in place, it is a very cost effective resource
- Water is free! and readily available!
Disadvantages of hydropower:
- It can cause damage to natural habitats and cause flooding
- It still emits carbon dioxide and methane
- There is a high cost associated with instillation
- Dams are beginning to have a negative perception in the US to some environmentalists
Future Outlook
The current dams established will continue to produce energy, but new dam construction has significantly slowed in the US. Hydroelectricity is a wonderful supplier to the renewable energy portion of utility production, but it will eventually be surpassed in the amount of energy production it accounts for by alternate technologies.