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Home , Dam, Electricity generation, Energy technology, Hydroelectricity, Micro hydro, Water turbine

HYDROPO WER A K EY TO P ROSPERITY IN THE G RO WING W ORLD WHAT IS HYDROPO WER? 2000 B.C. used by the Greeks to turn wheels for grinding wheat FA C T

The produced by water depends on 1880 the flow and the head (height of the fall). ’s Grand Electric Light A flow of 3 cubic meters per second (100 and Power Company generating with a belted to a cubic feet per second) falling 3 meters (10 water at the Wolverine Chair feet) will produce 113 horsepower. For com­ Factory, lit up 16 brush-arc lamps parison, the Itaipu has the capacity of nearly 17 million horsepower, or 150,000 ydropower supplies nearly one-fifth of the world’s • Hydropower is a mature , with known costs 1886 times as much as the example. About 45 water-powered electric plants Helectricity, second in importance only to and benefits. (waterwheels) in and the U.S. fossil -generated electricity (, oil, and gas). 1895 • Hydropower plants are the most efficient of the The first hydroelectric generator at Hydroelectric power has supplied , , , New York, produces major types of power plants. and homeowners with affordable electricity for over 100 1902 years and has been directly linked to prosperity and a • Hydropower facilities can respond almost First completed on the higher standard of living worldwide. Classified as a clean, instantaneously to changing electricity demand. 1910 renewable source, hydropower reduces the net The Vemork Hydropower Plant in • Hydropower projects provide crucial water manage- started producing electricity — it was at production of greenhouse gases by displacing other forms the time the world’s largest ment, control, and recreational benefits. of power generation. In contrast to most other renewable 1932 sources of electricity, hydropower can supply a significant • Hydropower emits minimal greenhouse gases and The Dnepr Dam completed — one of the earliest major in the portion of the world’s electricity needs. other chemical pollutants. 1933 Construction of the Grand Dam began — it still has more generating • Hydropower can be produced as long as the falls capacity than any dam in and flow — it will never run out and does not 1940 deplete our natural . 40% of all electricity generating capacity in the U.S. is provided by hydropower

1954 Owens Falls Dam, completed in Uganda, created the world’s largest capacity Hydroelectric generation follows a simple concept: water falling under the force of gravity turns the blades of a 1960 Construction on the Aswan High Dam turbine, which is connected to a generator (see diagram began — the largest construction project on the Nile River (completed in 1971) above). Electricity generated by the spinning turbine 1966 passes through a and out to transmission The world’s first dam to furnish hydro- from ocean built on lines supplying factories, shops, farms, and homes. The the Rance River, principle and the technique for generating electricity 1971 construction begins between from hydropower remains the same regardless of the size and — the world’s largest operating hydroelectric plant of the project, and plants can be tailor-made to fit a

1976 community or a country. For example, a million people in in completed — the world’s largest dam out- benefit from “mini/micro” scale hydropower side the U.S. FA C T (<2MW-sized) because their rural communities cannot 1986 The Itaipu project of Brazil and Paraguay, easily gain access to the national grid system. In contrast, shown to the right, has attracted more than 9 Worldwide hydropower generation Itaipu Dam, Brazil/Paraguay border increasing at 2.3% annually (1986 million visitors from over 50 countries since to present) the massive Itaipu plant (shown on the previous page) it was completed in 1983. Its powerhouse produces 12,600 megawatts (MW), almost 1993 supplies 78% of the entire electricity demand in enough to power all of . Approximately 20% of all electricity in the world (2,470 billion kWh) is generat- Paraguay and 25% of the demand in Brazil. ed by hydropower HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES WORLDWIDE HYDROPOWER ON HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY

EUROPE

uring the twentieth century, Europe and North America developed much of their hydropower D Developed 65% Potential 35% potential. The development of hydropower in these areas accelerated and contributed to high levels of prosperity. Asia’s development of hydropower, particularly in , eventually exceeded that of North America and Europe in terms of total installed capacity. he Egyptians and Greeks harnessed Asia, , and Africa still have vast, untapped T the power of river currents to turn Developed 40% Potential 60% reserves of potential hydropower. wheels and grind grain into flour before 2000 B.C. Romans constructed paddle As these pie charts indicate, Europe and North America wheels that turned with the riverflow have already developed more than 60% of their SOUTH AMERICA and lifted water to troughs built above hydropower. In contrast, emerging economies in Asia, the height of the river. In the Middle Developed 19% South America, and Africa currently utilize only a small Ages, more efficient waterwheels, which portion of their potential hydropower. Africa, for exam­ Potential 81% used a millrace to shoot water over the Waterwheel, Mystic Connecticut ple, has developed only 7% of its potential hydropower top blades of the wheel and produced more power, were resources. built for milling grain.

AFRICA

The first modern turbine design was developed in 1849 by Developed 7% James B. Francis, who built an enclosed waterwheel with PERCENTAGE OF CURRENT ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY HYDROPOWER Potential 93% adjustable blades or vanes. The vanes deflect the water, FA C T Hydropower supplies virtually all (99.6%) and the reaction spins the turbine; the angle of the vanes Africa 2% Australia 2% of Norway’s electricity. Additional capacity is changed to increase efficiency. The first hydroelectric is under construction, and more is planned Europe 13% for the future. Twenty-five countries world­ generator built at Niagara Falls, New York, in 1895 wide depend on hydropower for 90% or ASIA more of their electricity needs. S. America 18% produced alternating current. The installation at Niagara Asia 39% Falls set the standard for other hydroelectric power Developed 20% installations worldwide. N. America 26% Potential 80%

FA C T NORTH AMERICA The generation of hydroelectric power world­ wide increased by 458 billion kWh between 1986 and 1995, or an average annual growth rate of 2.3%. Canada, the U.S., Brazil, , and China Developed 61% Potential 39% were the five largest producers of hydroelectric power in 1995, accounting for 51% of the world total. HOW WILL HYDROPOWER MEET THE NEEDS OF A GROWING WORLD?

FA C T

China has numerous hydropower dams, such as the Xiuwen Hydropower Station located on the Maotiaohe River. Like the rest of the Asian continent, China has Because of its ability to provide an almost vast untapped hydropower potential. ot only does hydropower supply one-fifth of the ELECTRICITY DEMAND PER CAPITA instantaneous response to heavy electricity world’s electricity supply, it far exceeds the capacity N MWh per year demand simply by releasing more water, of any other . 15 hydropower can augment other energy 12 sources, such as solar and energy, • Hydropower produced 22 times more electricity world­ that may require supplemental electricity wide in 1995 than geothermal, solar, and 9 generation. Large-scale displacement of fossil combined. fuel generation by large hydropower projects 6 also significantly reduces • Hydropower is even more important for emerging emissions. Large hydropower projects can economies: hydropower produced 31% of the electricity 3 also foster economic prosperity for millions in developing nations in 1987. of people. However, the creation of large

Xiuwen Hydropower Station, China Africa States.) and accompanying Despite the dominance of fossil in terms of total America Europe (incl. large-scale hydropower projects may not fit the priorities South/Central Asia/Australia electricity generated worldwide (shown by the pie North America of Independent Commonwealth of local communities. chart below), more than 60 countries currently use 1990 SMMALL AND INI/MICRO-SCALE HYDROPOWER for 50% or more of their electricity needs. 2020 Small, locally driven hydropower projects often provide Most of the installed hydroelectric capacity resides in North Installed Capacity (MW) the best means for developing nations to increase access 20 America, Brazil, Russia, China, and Europe. Most of the to electricity and improve living standards without potential hydropower, however, exists in less developed Demand for electricity worldwide is expected to increase incurring local environmental disruption. Many regions, 15 regions in Asia, South and Central America, and Africa. as emerging economies modernize and developed particularly Asia, Europe, and North America, have nations continue along paths of economic growth and developed substantial hydroelectric resources with small prosperity. Some forecasters predict total electricity 10 plants of <10 MW capacity. Developing nations and rural demand in the world will double between 1990 and areas possess tremendous potential for small hydropower WORLD ELECTRICITY S UPPLY 2020, reflecting a growth rate of slightly more than 2% 5 projects that are quick to plan and build, use low- per year over 30 years. As shown in the graph above, cost devices and materials, and have minimal local tremendous differences in electricity demand per capita Nuclear 18% Hydro 19% environmental impact. exist among regions of the world. The growth rates Asia

Africa Other 4% Europe of per capita electricity demand are expected to be

Australia Gas 13% N.America S. America FA C T greatest in South and Central America, Asia, and Africa. Coal 36% Small hydropower (<10 MW) Vietnam has approximately 2,500 “micro” hydro­ Oil 10% Mini/micro hydropower (<2 MW) Fortunately, the potential hydropower available to electric power stations (<100kW). These plants serve irrigation and needs and produce generate electricity in those rapidly growing regions of electricity for about 200,000 households. The Republic of has identified 150 “mini” the world is also the greatest. (<2 MW) and “micro” hydro sites; Nigeria plans to develop 700 MW of capacity at 236 different projects. THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDROPOWER ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

COMPARING EFFICIENCIES OF FA C T Efficiency A recent agreement among industrialized nations 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% signed in Kyoto, , will require nations to limit A significant and growing portion of the below 1990 levels over Geothermal the next 10 to 15 years. As demand for electricity hydroelectric capacity worldwide is devoted grows, the agreement will place enormous Hydroelectric on countries to maintain economic growth and to pumped storage facilities that are prosperity by seeking other, nonpolluting sources Combined-cycle of electricity generation. designed solely to provide power during Coal-fired peak loads. Pumped storage facilities generated

offer significant flexibility to supplement Nuclear other electricity supplies. During off-peak ydropower generation is much better suited to Photovoltaic hours, such as the early morning H meet demands for peak loads than are steam- hours, excess electricity produced by electric units. The ability to start quickly and adjust to conventional power plants is used to rapid changes in load adjustments make hydroelectric Hydropower has several advantages over most other water from lower- to higher-level plants particularly suitable for responding to peak loads. sources of electrical power, including a high level of FA C T reservoirs. During periods of highest If operating at less than full load, hydroelectric power reliability, very low operating costs, and the ability to eas­ Japan currently has 38 pumped stor- Numappara Pumped Storage demand, the water is released from the plants can often respond very rapidly to sudden demands ily adjust to load changes. Also, hydropower does not age plants in operation, including the Plant, Japan Numappara Pumped Storage Plant upper reservoir through to generate electricity. for increased power. contribute to air , and reservoirs can also be used shown above. In addition, it has 8 under construction and 440 potential The combined use of pumped storage facilities with other for recreation, , and . However, new sites. types of electricity generation creates large cost savings Operating hydropower plants emit minimal amounts of like all electricity options, hydropower involves trade-offs. through more efficient utilization of base-load plants. airborne pollutants. As countries grapple with reducing Hydropower dams can cause environmental problems, As the chart below illustrates, the number of pumped emissions of greenhouse gases, hydropower can provide a such as modification of fish through altering storage plants planned and under construction is more significant energy alternative and displace other, more of and levels. While careful planning than double the number of plants currently operating. polluting forms of electricity generation. Other positive and operation of hydropower facilities can minimize influences of hydropower generation include flood environmental damage, environmental costs may prohibit control; navigational improvements on waterways; and the development of hydropower in some areas. vast recreational opportunities for boating, swimming, WORLDWIDE USE OF PUMPED STORAGE PLANTS fishing, and wildlife enthusiasts.

Plants under construction (42) FA C T ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER Planned plants (551) HIGH INITIAL COST OF FACILITIES Plants in operation A 1% improvement in the efficiency of FUEL SAVER PRECIPITATION DEPENDENT (290) existing U.S. power plants will produce FLEXIBLE TO MEET LOAD CHANGES IN STREAM FLOWS enough power to supply 283,000 house­ EFFICIENT INUNDATION OF LAND AND WILDLIFE holds, saving the energy equivalent of ABITAT RELIABLE AND DURABLE H more than 5 million barrels of oil per year. OSS OR MODIFICATION OF FISH HABITAT LOW OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE L COSTS FISH ENTRAINMENT AND PASSAGE RESTRICTION PROVEN TECHNOLOGY CHANGES IN RESERVOIR AND STREAM NO ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS WATER QUALITY HYDROPOWER: ELECTRICITY AND MORE GLOSSARY

ALTERNATING CURRENT An electrical current in which the electrons flow in alternate directions. For example, in North American electrical grids, the flow reversal is governed at 60 cycles per second (hertz).

BASELOAD In a demand sense, a load that varies only slightly in level over a specified time period. In a supply ydropower projects produce prime outdoor sense, a plant that operates most efficiently at a relatively constant level of generation. CAPACITY The maximum sustainable amount of power that can be produced by a generator or carried by a recreation opportunities. Storage reservoirs H transmission facility at any instant. create areas for boating, fishing, water skiing, and COMBINED CYCLE The combination of a gas turbine and in an electric generating plant. The waste from the first turbine cycle provides the heat energy for the second turbine cycle. swimming. Reaches of the river below dams also provide An electrical current in which the electrons flow continuously in one direction. Direct current is used in fishing, , canoeing, and other stream-related specialized applications in commercial electricity generation, transmission, and distribution systems.

recreation. Lands surrounding hydropower projects The volume of water flowing at a given time, usually expressed in cubic meters/feet per second.

often offer additional benefits, including camping, GENERATION The act or process of producing from other forms of energy. Also refers to the amount of electrical energy so produced. picnicking, hiking, and environmental and cultural GENERATOR A that converts into electrical energy. resources and interpretation. , U.S.A. HEAD The vertical height of water in a reservoir above the turbine. The more head, the more gravitational force that is exerted on the turbine, and the more power that can be produced.

• Hydropower is the most important source of renewable HYDROELECTRIC The production of electrical power through use of the gravitational force of falling water. energy in the world. KILOWATT (kW) A unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 (equivalent to about 1.3 horsepower). KILOWATT-HOUR (kWh) A basic unit of electrical energy equivalent to one kilowatt of power used for one hour.

LOAD The amount of electrical power or energy delivered or required at any specified point or points on a • Hydropower has furnished electricity to the world for system.

over a century, making it a proven, reliable technology. MEGAWATT (MW) A megawatt is one million watts, a measure of electrical power.

MEGAWATT-HOUR (MWh) A unit of electrical energy equivalent to one megawatt of power used for one hour. Gigawatt-hour (GWh) and Terawatt-hour (TWh) are one billion and one trillion watts of power used for one hour. • Some of the oldest hydropower projects have supplied OFFPEAK HOURS Period of relatively low demand for electrical energy, as specified by the supplier (such as the middle electricity for more than 100 years and are still going of the night). strong. PEAK LOAD The maximum electricity demand in a stated period of time. It may be the maximum instantaneous load or the maximum average load within a designated period of time.

PHOTOVOLTAIC The direct conversion of sunlight to electrical energy through the effects of solar on • Hydroelectric power still represents one of the most materials. inexpensive ways to generate power. PUMPED STORAGE PLANT A hydroelectric power plant that generates electrical energy to meet peak load by using water pumped into a storage reservoir during off-peak periods.

RENEWABLE RESOURCE A that is continuously or cyclically renewed by . A resource that uses solar, wind, • Small, mini-, and micro-scale hydropower projects hydro, geothermal, , or similar sources of energy. can be tailor-made to provide power and minimize RESERVE CAPACITY Generating capacity used to meet unanticipated demands for power or to generate power in the event normal generating resources are not available.

environmental and social impacts. RESERVOIR STORAGE The volume of water in a reservoir at a given time.

STORAGE RESERVOIRS Reservoirs that have space for retaining water from springtime snow melts. Retained water is released as necessary for multiple uses — power production, fish passage, , and navigation. • Most importantly, all hydropower projects are clean, THERMAL POWER PLANT A facility that uses heat to power an . The heat may be supplied by burning coal, oil, renewable sources of energy. , biomass or other fuel; by ; or by solar or geothermal sources.

TRANSMISSION GRID An interconnected system of transmission lines and associated equipment for the transfer of electrical energy in bulk between points of supply and points of demand.

TURBINE Machinery that converts of a moving fluid, such as falling water, to mechanical power, which is then converted to electrical power by an attached generator.

WATT Basic unit of electrical power. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY — IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENT FOR HYDROPOWER AND PROGRAMES

For more information, contact: JAPAN UPGRADING TASK FORCE Mr. Shoichi Murakami Mr. Jean-Paul Rigg , Directeur CHAIRMAN Senior Consultant Production Beauharnois et Gatineau Mr. Ulf Riise New Energy Hydro-Québec Director , Norwegian Electricity Shuwa Kioicho Park Building 3-6, 3320, F.X. Tessier Association kioicho, Chiyoda-ku Vaudreuil-Dorion, (Québec) J7V 5V5 P.O. Box 274 Tokyo 102, JAPAN CANADA 1326 Lysaker, NORWAY Fax: (1) 450-424-3115 Fax: (47) 67 11 91 10 NORWAY E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Alf V. Adeler NVE - Norwegian SMALL SCALE HYDRO TASK FORCE SECRETARY and Energy Administration Mr. Tony Tung Mr. Frans H. Koch Water Resources Department Manager, Hydraulic Energy Program 2012 Gatineau View Cr. P.O. Box 5091, Majorstua Natural Resources Canada , On KIJ 7X1 CANADA N-0301 Oslo, NORWAY 580 Booth Street Fax: (1) 613-748-3157 Ottawa, K1A 0E4 CANADA E-mail: [email protected] PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA Fax: (1) 613-996-9416 Mr. Tong Jiandong E-mail: [email protected] INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY Director, International Mr. Laurent Dittrick Center on Power ENVIRONMENT TASK FORCE Policy Division P.O. Box 202 Mr. Sverre Husebye International Energy Agency Hangzhou 310002, P.R. CHINA Department - NVE 9, rue de la Fédération P.O. Box 5091 - Majorstua 75739 Paris, FRANCE N-0301 Oslo, NORWAY Fax: (33) 1 40 57 67 59 Mr. Juan Sabater Fax: (47) 2295-9000 E-mail: [email protected] Studies and Projects Department E-mail: [email protected] Leader CANADA EDUCATION AND TRAINING TASK Mr. Jacob Roiz Príncipe de Vergara 187 FORCE Canadian Electricity Association 28002 Madrid, SPAIN Mr. Dagfinn K. Lysne Suite 1120, Sun Life Building Professor, Department of Hydraulic 1155 Metcalfe Street and Environmental Montréal, H3B 2V6 CANADA Mr. Lars Hammar University of Trondheim Elforsk AB N-7034 Trondheim, NORWAY FINLAND 101 53 Stockholm, SWEDEN Fax: (47) 7359-1298 Mr. Antti Aula, Director, Construction and Business Unit THIS BROCHURE WAS Kemijoki Oy Mr. Eric M. Wilson PRODUCED IN COOPERATION WITH: Valtakatu 9-11 P.O. Box 8131 Wilson Energy Associates Ltd. Mr. Michael Roluti FIN-96101 Rovaniemi, FINLAND 60 Bramhall Lane, South Bramhall Power Resources Office Stockport, Cheshire SK7 2DU Bureau of Reclamation FRANCE UNITED KINGDOM Department of the Mr. Gérard Casanova Interior Délégué Régional d’E.D.F. P.O. Box 25007 (D-5400) Midi - Pyrénées Denver, 80225-0007, U.S.A. Electricité de France 77, Chemin des Courses 31057 Toulouse, FRANCE