The Pros And Cons Of Hydroelectric Dam
Hydroelectric energy is produced by water turning a turbine to generate electricity. Hydroelectric offers a great amount of energy from a renewable source. Hydroelectric is the most common alternative energy source currently in use in the world. A hydroelectric dam is complex and hard to set up. To create a hydroelectric plant, it typically takes a large river with a steep drop in elevation. The greater the drop and amount of water, the more electricity is generated from the greater potential energy the water has when it's higher up. At the bottom of the a dam, there is an intake where gravity forces the water in and through a section called the penstock. The flowing water turns a blade on a shaft of the generator or motor to produces electricity. The generator works when a magnet moves past a conductor, causing electricity to flow. At the end, the water flows through a small outflow tunnel back to the river.
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One main advantage is that the water is free. This means that when you create a dam, you don’t have to pay for the water because the rights to use it comes with the land that is purchased for the project. Another pro is, dams provide nearly constant electricity. The damning of a river allows for a constant flow so there is no worry about there not being enough water to power the hydroelectric dam. Also no chemicals are used, so the water isn’t polluted. Even though the water may be warmed and effected in other ways the water is not chemically altered. Other than the setup of a hydroelectric dam where the making of the cement contributes to global warming, it creates very minimal pollution because there is
One main advantage is that the water is free. This means that when you create a dam, you don’t have to pay for the water because the rights to use it comes with the land that is purchased for the project. Another pro is, dams provide nearly constant electricity. The damning of a river allows for a constant flow so there is no worry about there not being enough water to power the hydroelectric dam. Also no chemicals are used, so the water isn’t polluted. Even though the water may be warmed and effected in other ways the water is not chemically altered. Other than the setup of a hydroelectric dam where the making of the cement contributes to global warming, it creates very minimal pollution because there is