Hydropower Energy Basics (Text Version)

This is the text version of the video "Hydropower Energy Basics."

Turning water into electricity? Sounds like a magic trick.

But did you know, about 7% of all of America's electricity is generated by water?

It's called Hydropower, and it's the largest source of renewable, clean energy in the United States and worldwide.

How does it work? It's simple.

Using the power of the flow of water, we can capture kinetic, or moving, energy. This movement of energy can be used to physically move other objects, like a turbine. Turbines and generators convert the energy and power of flowing water into electricity. That electricity is then fed into the electrical grid to be used by you and me in homes and businesses.

Dams and reservoirs do more than just generate electricity. They help communities with flood control and irrigation, and provide drinking water and recreation opportunities, too.

Hydropower, also called hydroelectric power, is sustainable by Earth's natural water cycle.

Water flows through lakes, streams, and oceans, then evaporates into the clouds—the clouds create rain, transporting the water right back into the lakes, streams, and oceans where it began - allowing the power to be recaptured over and over again.

Hydropower is one of the most reliable, and cost-effective sources of renewable energy.

And it enables the adoption of other renewables, like wind and solar, helping communities to achieve their low-carbon goals.

Hydropower is continually evolving. Working together with other industries, we're developing small, modular concepts that offer improved energy capture and storage with minimal environmental footprint.

With continued research, we can discover new ways to effectively and efficiently capture this powerful resource…no magic needed…just science.

[NREL logo]

www.nrel.gov/research/learning.html


Share