Hydroelectricity is an alternative energy that uses the natural flow of water to create electricity to light our homes and supply electricity for the industries in the area. In order for electricity to be created, the natural water flow is directed towards turbine blades which causes them to spin. In result of the turbine blades spinning, the turbine makes the electrical generator rotate and produce electricity. The amount of electricity that gets produced is determined by the speed of water flowing as well as the volume of water in the area. With the greater amount of speed and volume, the more electricity will be created.
Hydroelectricity development was established in the early 1880s. The first hydropower station in Canada was “built by the Ottawa Electric Light Company at Chaudière Falls”7 which used its electricity to “power street lights and local mills.”7.
There are two ways to gather electricity from the natural flow of water. One of them being the use of run-of-river and the other being storage/dams. The run-of-river uses the natural flow of water found in a river without having to modify the flow and used with little or no storage. In order to gather electricity, it diverts the river into a stream that goes into a pipe “that channels it downstream to a turbine”8 which leads back to the river. The other form of gathering electricity is through storage/dams. Dams are used to allow water pass through to create electricity. What differs between storage/dams and run-of-river, is that the dams provide a reservoir where water gets stored. The water that gets stored is in an artificial man-made lake which provides storage for future energy use7.
Hydroelectricity provides a positive impact on the environment and it leads our nation towards a more sustainable future. Electricity demands will continue to grow, and with hydroelectricity being readily available it can reduce emissions, and fortunately Canada still has lots of potential hydropower left.
Hydroelectricity development was established in the early 1880s. The first hydropower station in Canada was “built by the Ottawa Electric Light Company at Chaudière Falls”7 which used its electricity to “power street lights and local mills.”7.
There are two ways to gather electricity from the natural flow of water. One of them being the use of run-of-river and the other being storage/dams. The run-of-river uses the natural flow of water found in a river without having to modify the flow and used with little or no storage. In order to gather electricity, it diverts the river into a stream that goes into a pipe “that channels it downstream to a turbine”8 which leads back to the river. The other form of gathering electricity is through storage/dams. Dams are used to allow water pass through to create electricity. What differs between storage/dams and run-of-river, is that the dams provide a reservoir where water gets stored. The water that gets stored is in an artificial man-made lake which provides storage for future energy use7.
Hydroelectricity provides a positive impact on the environment and it leads our nation towards a more sustainable future. Electricity demands will continue to grow, and with hydroelectricity being readily available it can reduce emissions, and fortunately Canada still has lots of potential hydropower left.
Benefits of Hydroelectricity:
Hydroelectricity is beneficial in Canada because we have plenty of water sources, it is relatively cheap and does not create any greenhouse gases or air pollution. Hydropower is a “clean, renewable source”9 of energy. This is because we have an abundant amount of water flowing in Canada. Hydroelectric facilities can last until 100 years or even longer which in many cases provides that they are highly reliable. |
Challenges with Hydroelectricity:
The dams and man-made reservoirs are creating massive flooding which can potentially ruin ecosystems in the surrounding areas as well as potential to “release harmful substances into the water; until flooding, these substance including mercury, had been stored in the ground”10. The dams also change the fish habitats in the area which leads to a disruption in the natural flow in the lake. |
Marine energy is fascinating, click below to learn about how the ocean currents can provide our nation with electricity.