Hydropower – or water power is derived from the energy of falling water or fast running water which may be harnessed for useful purpose hydropower uses the force of moving rain water. Some also know this as hydroelectricity
How does hydropower work- the hydro plans capture the energy of falling rainwater to generate hydroelectricity. A turbine converts kinetic energy of rainwater into mechanical energy then the turbine turns the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Hydropower is also called hydroelectricity. The most common type of storage/power plant is on dams or rivers. There are multiple ways in which hydro power is transferred and produced. One of the most recognised way is rain water released from the reservoir and flows into a hydropower turbine that then transfers and spins it and then after that process it activates a generator that creates hydroelectricity
Advantages-
Hydropower is fuelled by water and advantage hydropower has to other types powers is it is clean so it does not pollute like other power plants that burn fossil fuels. Hydropower is a domestic source of energy meaning it allows every state to produce their own without relying on other states to produce hydropower. Also it is not costly to produce hydropower because to produce hydropower it relies on water cycle which is powered by the sun(energy.com). Hydropower is a reliable source of energy because it is a renewable source of energy meaning we will not run out of it except if a drought occurs. Being in Australia droughts are common so that would make hydropower an unreadable source of energy in Australia at this time
Disadvantages
Disadvantages of hydropower is it has a environmental impacts and hydropower is related to a intervention in nature because of damming of water hydropower facilities can have a large environmental impacts because the power plants change the environment and effects the land and homes and natural habitats in radius of the power plant. Having a drought can and will affect the use of hydropower because without rain and water the power will not be able to function. This diagram shows how the hydropower is transferred through turbines and generates. Also this diagram of the hydropower transformation is one of the many ways this type of power is produced but this way is the most common way of producing hydropower
Impact to society
The effects in which hydropower has on society and be good and also bad some of the cons this power has to society is it does not have the potential to save the nation money. Also this type of energy can and will effect the land form, also affecting wildlife and housing in near the dams. A positive hydropower can have against society is it is fueled by water meaning it is clean and does not have the potential to pollute the air except when creating the turbines and generates can create pollution. Also hydropower is a domestic source of energy meaning every state can produce their own hydropower without relying on other states or countries. Yes hydropower does not pollute the air but it has a major effect on the environment and that also impacts us a society, because it affects our landforms and housing/ habitats near the dam reservoir. Also having dam reservoirs will affect wildlife in the way of hurting and killing the aquatic ecosystem. Things that can prevent hurting the aquatic life is fish ladders and in-take screens can help to prevent this but these methods can only minimise these impacts
Recommendation
Hydropower can be and is used for mass production in, 1920. Hydroelectric plants supplied 40% of energy produced.(renewablefirst.co.uk) but can this source of energy run the whole nation effectively- yes and no but mostly yes there are a fair few knock backs to having hydropower as stated in the disadvantages to hydropower. examples of what makes hydropower unreliable manufactures design hydro turbines to live 25 years at minimum, in most cases manufacturers have there turbines out in power fields for up to 50 years this can be costly to replace turbines also having these turbines can affect us environmentally as in land uses and home also wildlife. This would make hydropower a reliable source of energy but you would have to consider the knock backs hydropower has to the environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion hydropower is a very safe and sufficient source of energy it has advantages to it does not pollute the air and it is a domestic source of energy but having this power does have its impacts and disadvantages towards having this source. As it hurts and kills our aquatic wildlife and affecting land uses for us and our homes but in future we can implement thing so that will not happen.