The Importance and Benefits of Hydroelectric Power

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Introduction:
Hydroelectric power plant is one of the major power plants all over the world in order to create electricity. It is also one of the best renewable energy sources on the planet earth. In ranking, Canada is the third largest country to produce hydroelectricity power. The efficiency of this power source is 90% and this is very impressive as the percentage of efficiency is very high. Hydro power plants generate 24% of the world’s electricity. More than 1 billion people are associated with hydro power plants as they use the power supply from hydro power plants.
Where does it come from? / Source:
Hydropower became the source of generating electricity in the late 19th century. Electricity generated by hydro power plants is simply by using moving water. Due to rain or melting snow on hills and mountains, the water flows in the direction of earth’s surface with the help of the force of gravity. This running water is highly energized which is then used to create electrical energy. Not only mountains, rivers, stream and other source of water also assist to create electricity with the use of hydro electric power plant. The power plant converts the kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy and electric energy.
Waterfalls, lakes, rivers and streams are three natural sources of hydro electric power. The falling or flowing water from a fall or river respectively are stored in a dam directly. This dam can be opened or closed according to the need of water level. A great example of a natural source of hydro power plant would be the Niagara Falls power plant. This was the first hydro electric power plant which was built in 1879.
A human made source could be a direct pathway in the direction of a dam from any natural source. S...

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...ieved May 1, 2014, from http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/eng4431
Hydroelectric power water use. (n.d.). Hydroelectric power and water. Basic information about hydroelectricity, USGS Water Science for Schools.. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html
Hydroelectricity. (n.d.). EPA. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/hydro.html
Hydropower. (n.d.). CHE. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://che.nelson.wisc.edu/cool_stuff/energy/hydro.shtml#production
Hydropower. (n.d.). - Hydroelectric Power. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/hydropower
Hydropower Facts, Hydropower Information- National Geographic. (n.d.). National Geographic. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/hydropower-profile/

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