hydroelectric dams
Reservoir energy generators
Hydroelectric dams are massive structures built across rivers to generate electricity from flowing water.
The dam creates a reservoir, and water released through turbines converts the force of its descent into electrical power.
Hydroelectric dams provide renewable energy but can displace communities and disrupt ecosystems: The hydroelectric dam flooded three villages upstream.
Brazil gets most of its electricity from hydroelectric dams.
Controlled water conduit
- spillwayDam's water release structure
- civil engineeringPublic structure construction field
- hydraulicsStudy of pressurized liquids
- intakeAmount received or consumed
headrace · tailrace · sluice gates · Francis turbine · run-of-river · feasibility study · commissioning · operations
Solid building mixture
- archCurved spanning structure
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- buttressArchitectural wall reinforcement
- foundationUnderlying support structure
abutment · crest · reservoir · impoundment · barrage · weir · cofferdam · rockfill
Process of creating electricity
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- megawattsMillion-watt units
- kilowattsThousand-watt units
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
transformer · generator · voltage · current · alternating current · transmission · wattage · output
Self-replenishing natural power
- clean powerPollution-free electricity sources
- low-carbonMinimal CO2 output
- green energyEnvironmentally sustainable electricity
- energy securityAssured access to fuel
climate mitigation · baseload power · water management · irrigation · flood control · multipurpose · carbon-free · decarbonization
Damage to living spaces
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- methane emissionsGreenhouse gas discharge
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- water qualityCondition of H2O supply
eutrophication · deforestation · displacement · resettlement · mitigation · restoration · dam removal · rewilding
Drainage area boundary
- tributaryStream entering larger river
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- upstreamToward a river's origin
downstream · diversion · channel · sediment · siltation · floodplain · riparian · aquatic
penstock
Controlled water conduit
- spillwayDam's water release structure
- civil engineeringPublic structure construction field
- hydraulicsStudy of pressurized liquids
intake · headrace · tailrace · sluice gates · Francis turbine · run-of-river · feasibility study · commissioning · operations · maintenance
concrete
Solid building mixture
- archCurved spanning structure
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- buttressArchitectural wall reinforcement
foundation · abutment · crest · reservoir · impoundment · barrage · weir · cofferdam · rockfill · earthfill
power generation
Process of creating electricity
grid · transformer · generator · voltage · current · alternating current · transmission · wattage · output · capacity
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- clean powerPollution-free electricity sources
- low-carbonMinimal CO2 output
- green energyEnvironmentally sustainable electricity
energy security · climate mitigation · baseload power · water management · irrigation · flood control · multipurpose · carbon-free · decarbonization · energy storage
habitat disruption
Damage to living spaces
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- methane emissionsGreenhouse gas discharge
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
water quality · eutrophication · deforestation · displacement · resettlement · mitigation · restoration · dam removal · rewilding · Three Gorges
watershed
Drainage area boundary
- tributaryStream entering larger river
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
upstream · downstream · diversion · channel · sediment · siltation · floodplain · riparian · aquatic · salmon run
- green energywind power, solar power, renewables, solar farm, solar panel
- heavy industrysteel mills, steel production, steel industry, steelmaking, smelters
- infrastructurehighways, road construction, railway expansion, power grid, roads
- power sourcessolar power, wind power, steam, nuclear power, wave power
- power systemsgenerators, turbines, power plants, power stations, power grid
- utilitieswater supply, public utilities, water line, gas service, gas
hydroelectric damsnatural gas plants
Methane processing facilities
nuclear power plants · thermal power plants · wind turbines · diesel generators · geothermal plants
electric, electricity, electrical, electrify, electrifying, electrician, electrode, hydro, electrolyte