| Hydropower has been a slumbering giant in the energy | | | | oil.While hydropower seems like a slam dunk option as |
| game. Since the 1960s, its use has actually gone down | | | | an energy platform, there are a few definite negatives. |
| compared to other energy sources. This is beginning to | | | | The initial cost of building a hydropower dam can be |
| change.Hydropower As A Major Player In The Energy | | | | very large. Hundreds of millions of dollars can be |
| GameHydropower is the massive production of | | | | required. Larger projects such as the Three Gorges |
| electricity through the conversion of kinetic energy in | | | | dam run into the billions. These figures are staggering |
| water into electricity. This is typically undertaken in the | | | | for smaller countries and even give pause to most first |
| form of a dam on a river. Water is held back by the | | | | world ones. With the rising costs of fossil fuels, |
| dam and then fed in a controlled manner through it. On | | | | however, this is becoming less of an issue each and |
| its way, the water spins turbines that crank generators | | | | every day.The other area that causes concern with |
| and produce electricity. Famous projects include | | | | hydropower dams is the environmental and human |
| Hoover Dam in the United States, Nasser Dam in | | | | impact. Damming a river is no easy task and the |
| Egypt and the new Three Gorges Dam in China.The | | | | impact is massive. To effectively work, a hydropower |
| primary question with hydropower is why we do not | | | | dam will reduce the flow of water to such an extent |
| use it more. In some countries, such as Norway, it is | | | | that tens if not hundreds of miles of land behind it will |
| the primary source of energy production. It is popular | | | | be submerged. In the case of the Three Gorges Dam, |
| because it is a clean energy platform that produces no | | | | this led to the removal of entire cities, monasteries and |
| emissions, pollution, heat or fuel consumption. As long | | | | massive changes to the landscape. There is no |
| as the river runs, the hydropower plant should function. | | | | disputing this negative issue, but localized changes |
| In places like Africa, this has not always been a sure | | | | seem minor compared to the global impact of fossil |
| thing.Compared to other energy platforms, hydropower | | | | fuel use.There is not much glamour to hydropower, but |
| is very efficient. Energy conversion rates are in the 80 | | | | it does represent one of the cleanest and efficient |
| to 90 percent range. The plants also have a long life | | | | energy platforms available to us.Rick Chapo is with |
| as you can see with any dam, and maintenance costs | | | | SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy |
| are relatively low. Cost of energy production, thus, is | | | | companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar |
| lower or on par with other energy platforms including | | | | power. |