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A hydropower resource can be evaluated by its available power. Power is a function of the hydraulic head and volumetric flow rate. The head is the energy per unit weight (or unit mass) of water. [5] The static head is proportional to the difference in height through which the water falls. Dynamic head is related to the velocity of moving water.
Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. The power extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow. This height difference is called the head.
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, as it not intermittent. [92] In 2021, the world renewable hydropower capacity was 1,360 GW. [73] Only a third of the world's estimated hydroelectric potential of 14,000 TWh/year has been developed.
Small power plant of Licq-Athérey (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France). An 1895 hydroelectric plant near Telluride, Colorado.. Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale suitable for local community and industry, or to contribute to distributed generation in a regional electricity grid. [1]
As long as there is flow, it is possible to produce electricity. The advantage of electricity generated in this way is that it is a renewable resource. [3] A small-scale Micro Hydro Power can be a reliable and long lasting piece of technology. The disadvantage of the system is that technology has yet to be developed more than what it is today.
The wind power, solar power and hydroelectric power industries provide good examples of this. Global renewable energy investment growth (1995-2007) [1] In 2020, the global renewable energy market was valued at $881.7 billion [2] and consumption grew 2.9 EJ. [3]
The transition to renewable energy depends on non-renewable resources, such as mined metals. [38] Manufacturing of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and batteries requires significant amounts of rare-earth elements [39] which has significant social and environmental impact if mined in forests and protected areas.
The environmental dimension of sustainability includes greenhouse gas emissions, impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, hazardous waste and toxic emissions, [7] water consumption, [9] and depletion of non-renewable resources. [6] Energy sources with low environmental impact are sometimes called green energy or clean energy. The economic ...