Hydropower and hydroelectricity………..

We have been listening and reading in different news papers and news channels about the crisis of the energy sources. It is believed that the quantity of fossil fuels which we have today will be able to feed our needs just for next 50 years or else 70 years. USA is facing the crisis of energy since last few years and that is why the whole world is indulged in finding the alternative of the fossil fuels. One of the effective alternatives is hydro power which needs to be developed. Hydro power is a renewable energy resource which utilizes the water of the mother earth to produce the electricity. The movement of water produces the kinetic energy and with the help of hydroelectric power plant, it can be converted in to the electricity. The electricity is produced by forcing water through a hydraulic turbine, connected to a generator. The water flows from the built dam and also returns to the river of the dam. Basically the hydro power needs the precipitation of water and that is why the mountainous areas can have more hydro power plants.

The hydropower does not burn anything and so there is no question of emission of CO₂ and air pollution. But the researches say that the operation of hydropower dams can result into the pollution of wild life and river system. The generation of hydroelectric power changes the downstream river environment. It also diminishes the population of few of the spices of fishes. Another disadvantage of the hydroelectricity can be felt at the time of drought. The safety measures should be taken in consideration while structuring the dams as the failure of a dam can be very fatal. The failure of the dam in southern china ended in the deaths of 1, 71,000 people and left lots of people homeless.

Though, the hydropower has few disadvantages, if this source of energy can be harnessed then it can be very useful. The Canada and China are leaders in harnessing the water power. The annual hydroelectric energy production of USA is 291.2 which is 9% of total electric supply. By increasing the production of electricity by hydropower, USA can easily meet the demands of the electricity.