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