Why Hydro-Power is a Valuable Green Energy Source?

Global warming and skyrocketing energy costs are leaving the world looking for green energy sources. An energy source qualifies as "green" by being renewable and eliminating non-harmful bi-products. There are many potential green energy sources such as wind power and bio-diesel. Another potential green energy source is Hydro-power.

Hydro-power involves creating energy by utilizing the power of water. Environmental Literacy Council explains, "Hydroelectric power stems from the process of using water's energy as it flows from higher to lower elevation, rotating hydraulic turbines to create electricity." Hydroelectric power produces very few bi-products

Hydroelectric power is not new. The history of hydroelectric power can be traced back to Ancient Greece and China. The ancient Greeks utilized hydro-power to turn millstones. In the ancient Greeks installed water wheels in swiftly moving rumors and streams. These water wheels were connected to two millstones or other equipment. Hydro-power was even used in early America. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Americans it used water wheels to power equipment such as saws.

These early water wheels laid the foundation for hydroelectric power. Today's hydroelectric plants use hydro-power to turn turbines. Much like yesterday's water wheels, these turbines harness hydro-power Instead of turning millstones or powering saws, these turbines generate electricity. This electricity can then be used in homes or businesses.

Hydro-power as one large drawback, it can be hard to maintain a constant supply. During the 20th century, Americans even found a way to control the flow of hydro-power By building dams at, and the amount of water could be held back and then released and more energy was needed. This allowed Americans to control who how much electricity was generated.

Not everyone is pleased with Hydro electric power's benefits. Opponents has stated that building dams pose a problem for fish and aquatic plants. Opponents state and that by changing in the natural flow water, a quite plants do not receive nutrient rich silk. Opponents claim that if these aquatic plants do not grow properly been fish do not receive the food they need.

Rivers, lakes, and dams are not the only ways to generate hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power can also be generated from wave power or wave energy. Wave power or wave energy utilizes the power of the oceans itself. Darville explains, "Ocean waves are caused by the wind as it blows across the sea. Waves are a powerful source of energy."

There are several ways to utilize wave power wave energy. One of these is by using steal their chambers. He sealed chambers are placed in areas with high wave activity. My wave hits the Sealed Air chamber, air is forced out. When the wave recedes, air rushes back into a sealed chamber. This rushing of air turns a turbine. As the turbine turns then all electric power is generated. Currently, such turbines are in use in Scotland, northern Canada, southern Africa, Australia, and the United States.

Another form of hydro-power is tidal energy. Title image is very similar to wave energy; however, wave energy utilizes waves as they passed by and tidal energy traps tidal waters behind small dams. The incoming tide fills the dam's reservoirs. As the tidal waters recede, these rushing outgoing tidal waters turn the turbines. Electricity is produced by these turning turbines.

Ocean waters can also be turned into a source of hydro-power by utilizing thermal energy. Ocean currents create temperature changes. Scientists are able to identify way or they will happen and predict these temperature changes. Global Oneness explains, "The warm water is used to make a liquid such as ammonia evaporate, causing it to expand. The expanding gas forces its way through turbines, after which it is condensed using the colder water and the cycle can begin again."

With the world looking for potential green energy sources, hydro-power offers many benefits. Hydro-power utilizes a resource that cover 75% of your service, water. Utilizing hydro-power does not require any fuel. Since hydroelectric power can be created without any fuel, there are no waste products. Depending on how hydro-power is utilized, hydro-power can be inexpensive to operate and maintain. Currently utilize methods of generating hydroelectric power can produce a large amount of energy. These benefits make hydro-power a very promising green energy source.

References
Darville, Clara. Energy Resources: Wave Power. Darvill.Clara.net. Retrieved on December 15, 2009 from http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/wave.htm
Hydro-power: Encyclopedia II - hydro-power - types of water power. n.d. Global Oneness. Retrieved on December 15, 2009 from http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Hydropower_-_Types_of_water_power/id/1489410
Darville, Clara. Hydroelectric power - energy from falling water. n.d. Darvill.Clara.net. Retrieved on December 15, 2009 from http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/hydro.htm
Hydroelectric Power. n.d. Environmental Literacy Council. Retrieved on December 15, 2009 from http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/59.html