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Hydropower (from Ancient Greek ὑδρο-, "water"), also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power. [1] Hydropower is a method of sustainable energy production.
Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, [1] which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also more than nuclear power. [2] Hydropower can provide large amounts of low-carbon electricity on demand, making it a key element for creating secure and clean electricity supply systems. [ 2 ]
Electric power production in Italy from 1883 to 2012: hydroelectricity (in blue) remained almost the same since the 1950s. Since the Italian peninsula is relatively recent geological formation, it lacks commercial coal deposits and oil, so hydroelectricity was the first source widely used in Italy to produce electric energy, [4] and remained the main source at least until the 1960s.
Hydroelectricity is, as of 2019, the second-largest renewable source of energy in both generation and nominal capacity (behind wind power) in the United States. [1] In 2021, hydroelectric power produced 31.5% of the total renewable electricity, and 6.3% of the total U.S. electricity. [2]
Conduit hydroelectricity (or conduit hydropower) is a method of using mechanical energy of water as part of the water delivery system through man-made conduits to generate electricity. Generally, the conduits are existing water pipelines such as in public water supply . [ 1 ]
However many run-of-the-river hydro power plants are micro hydro or pico hydro plants. Much hydropower is flexible, thus complementing wind and solar. [85] In 2021, the world renewable hydropower capacity was 1,360 GW. [67] Only a third of the world's estimated hydroelectric potential of 14,000 TWh/year has been developed.
In comparison, hydropower only employs 16% of the renewable energy workforce, but contributes 36.4% of the final energy consumption. The revenue created by the biofuel (solid, fluid, and gaseous) sector was 2,764 million euros (38% of a total 7,219 million euros generated by the renewable sector).
The River Bain Hydro is a hydroelectric generator on the River Bain in the village of Bainbridge, North Yorkshire, England.Its screw turbine powers most of the properties in the village, with excess electricity being sold off to the National Grid.