hydroelectricity
Turbine-driven river energy
Hydroelectricity is electrical power generated from the energy of moving water.
Dams capture river flow to spin turbines, converting kinetic energy into electricity.
It's a renewable energy source that produces no direct emissions, though dam construction significantly alters ecosystems: The region gets most of its hydroelectricity from the Columbia River.
Water-holding barrier
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- generatorElectricity-producing machine
- penstockControlled water conduit
spillway · powerhouse · sluice · fish ladder · tailrace · impoundment · headwater · diversion
Able to endure long-term
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
- low-carbonMinimal CO2 output
- renewableCapable of restoration
- alternative energyNon-fossil fuel sources
carbon-neutral · green power · non-fossil · decarbonization · energy transition
Unbroken forward movement
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- streamSteady continuous flow
- currentDirected flow of charge
- watershedDrainage area boundary
precipitation · freshwater · rapids · cascade · inflow · outflow · runoff · catchment
Thousand watts of power
- megawattMillion-watt unit
- gigawattBillion-watt unit
- voltageElectrical potential difference
- currentDirected flow of charge
transmission · grid · transformer · alternating current · power output · capacity · load · baseload
Yangtze's dramatic narrow valleys
- Hoover DamConcrete arch-gravity structure on Colorado
- AswanEgyptian city and dam
- run-of-riverDamless hydroelectric generation
Damage to living spaces
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- siltationAccumulation of fine waterborne particles
- downstream effectsResults occurring later in sequence
- methane emissionsGreenhouse gas discharge
displacement · deforestation · water quality · erosion · environmental assessment · spawning · biodiversity loss · riparian
dam
Water-holding barrier
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- generatorElectricity-producing machine
penstock · spillway · powerhouse · sluice · fish ladder · tailrace · impoundment · headwater · diversion · gates
sustainable
Able to endure long-term
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
- low-carbonMinimal CO2 output
- renewableCapable of restoration
alternative energy · carbon-neutral · green power · non-fossil · decarbonization · energy transition
flow
Unbroken forward movement
watershed · precipitation · freshwater · rapids · cascade · inflow · outflow · runoff · catchment · drainage
kilowatt
Thousand watts of power
current · transmission · grid · transformer · alternating current · power output · capacity · load · baseload · peak demand
Three Gorges
Yangtze's dramatic narrow valleys
- Hoover DamConcrete arch-gravity structure on Colorado
- AswanEgyptian city and dam
- run-of-riverDamless hydroelectric generation
habitat disruption
Damage to living spaces
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- siltationAccumulation of fine waterborne particles
- downstream effectsResults occurring later in sequence
methane emissions · displacement · deforestation · water quality · erosion · environmental assessment · spawning · biodiversity loss · riparian
- green energywind power, solar power, renewables, solar farm, solar panel
- natural resourcescrude oil, lumber, water, gas, air
- energy sourcesoil, gas, coal, solar, wind
- utilitieswater supply, public utilities, water line, gas service, gas
- hydropowerwater turbine, dam, turbine, penstock, powerhouse
- Canadian Industriesaerospace, automotive, biotechnology, construction, dairy
hydroelectricitycoal power
Electricity from combusted sedimentary carbon
solar power · nuclear power · wind power · thermal power · geothermal energy
hydroelectricityportable generators
Transportable engine-driven power sources
electric, electricity, electrical, electrify, hydraulic, hydro, hydropower, hydraulics, hydrology