Hydropower is taking the energy out of water flowing from...

Hydropower is taking the energy out of water flowing from a higher elevation to a lower one and converting it into electricity. Hydropower has been used as source for electricity for many years and is the leading renewable energy resource in America today. Hydropower is the most dependable and effective of all renewable power sources. â€Å"And today, about seven percent of all electricity is generated from hydropower† (DOE.org) The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation’s largest federal, public power company. TVA also has fossil fuel, nuclear, and hydropower plants. â€Å"TVA maintains 29 conventional hydroelectric dams throughout the Tennessee River System and one pumped-storage facility for the production of electricity.† (tva.gov) â€Å"Together†¦show more content†¦(tva.gov) (Figure 1.1) There are many benefits to using hydropower. Hydropower is fueled by water, so it’s a clean fuel source and doesn’t pollute the environment like other power plants. It is also a domestic source of energy because it is produced in the United States. Hydropower is a renewable resource because it relies on the water cycle and is also available as needed because engineers can control the flow of water through the turbines to produce electricity on demand. However, Hydropower operations can have negative effects on aquatic life near the dams. A low oxygen level in the water being released from the dams puts stress on the aquatic life that lives in the water and damages their natural habitat. â€Å"To address these problems TVA began a five-year, $44 million tail water improvements program in 1991. Several approaches are used to keep a constant flow of water in the riverbed and to add oxygen to the water. Studies show that such efforts are making a positive difference in wat er quality and the health of the aquatic environment downstream of hydropower dams.† (tva.gov) Hydropower is a clean and reliable source of energy for TVA and plays an important role in their power system. â€Å"On the Tennessee River system TVA maintains twenty-nine conventional hydroelectric dams and one pumped-storage plant for the production of electricity. This hydro system generates between seven and tenShow MoreRelatedTop Ten Biggest Dams in Asia15124 Words   |  61 PagesAsia Human’s never ending need of water dates back from the start of our existence. In the earlier days our ancestors have always been relying on the naturally occurring dams found in nature. But with the rapid increase of population, these natural dams are now very insufficient in providing enough water to supply the peoples demand for water. With a problem comes a solution, our early ancestors needed to find a more efficient way of getting and storing water for their needs. So instead of relyingRead MoreThe Holy River of India-River Ganges9512 Words   |  39 Pagesthe river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her defeats. She has been a symbol of Indias age-long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga. - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, born in Allahabad on the Ganges Ganges (Hindi Ganga), major river of the Indian subcontinent, formed in the southern ranges of the Himalaya, in northern Uttar Pradesh