...1. Introduction The overpopulation of the world have arisen a question of sustainable energy sources rather than the fossil fuels. Hydropower is alternative way of generating electricity using the energy of flowing water which is a renewable, clean and low-cost energy source and utmost important for the future. According to World Commission on Dams (2000) there are almost 45000 large dams on the rivers of world producing 19% of the world’s total energy (Wang, Dong & Lassoie 2014). The energy production by using water flow can be obtained by construction of dams and formation of reservoirs on the specific areas on healthy rivers. While, construction of these hydro power plants acquires huge land and transformation of river flows. The purpose of this report is to investigate the serious problems caused by hydropower plants and suggest possible solutions to these. Firstly, this report will describe two significant problems associated with hydropower plant development which are relocation of inhabitants and damage on aquatic species. Secondly, the report suggests that resettlement program is potential solution to manage the impacts of forced displacement and the development of passage system can manage the harm on aquatic species. Finally this report concludes by proposing recommendations which hydroelectric enterprises, social activists and local authorities working for development must implement in order to lessen the effects of hydroelectricity projects. 2. Problems...
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...Faux Falls: The unnatural wonder of Niagara What do you think of when you hear Niagara Falls? You probably think of a tourist destination with astonishing waterfalls . While it is a huge tourist destination for about 22 million people, it's not the only use(Lopez 2007). It's one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It has beautiful scenery and it's a breathe taking experience, but it has been modified for the use of hydropower(Lopez 2007). Beginning as a natural wonder of the world, it started after The Ice Age. Ice melted over, and drained into Niagara River, which caused erosion onto the cliffs between Lewiston, New York and Canada. With this now happening, it created what we now know as Niagara Falls (Niagarafallsstatepark.com, 2014). Niagara Falls isn't just one of the most beautiful places in the world but it is also puts out over 2.5 million kilowatts of hydro electric power, enough to power 24 million 100-watt light bulbs.(Lopez 2007). In 1950, the United States and Canada came to an agreement about the hydropower production from Niagara Falls. Inside of the agreement it included equal parts of hydro power, along with how much water is allowed to flow and also the scheduled months and times (Lopez 2007). In the agreement, the Canadian power stations draw 56,500 cubic feet of water per second and the American power stations draw 32,500 cubic feet of water per second. The flow rates of water are monitored by Ontario Hydro through a sensing devices...
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...Hydroelectric Energy Hum432 Professor Robinson/Nightwine Laurena Wires History of Hydropower Since the commencement of time, water has been a vital necessity to mankind. As time progressed through the early ages of civilizations, the need to consider water as a basic need has stayed the same. Instead it has developed tremendously. This is due to the continuous growth in population throughout the planet. Since it was first invented, hydro- powered electricity has played a critical role in the improvements made by mankind. This will therefore help us in advancing for many generations to come. Humans have settled in a location with an available source of water, such as a river, a lake and so on. People had to come up with a way of harnessing this valuable natural resource and using it to our benefit. Hence the construction of mills, and dams gained some momentum. For instance, “during the industrial revolution in Britain, in the late 18th century water power played a key role in developing the industrial base of the country”(Dell & Rand, 2004). During the 18th century, the applications of water energy began to spread. According to Dell and Rand (2004), water power entered a new era in 1882 when the world’s first hydro-electric power plant began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. Producing 12.5 kilowatts (kW) of power, this paved the way into new ideas and projects throughout the United States and later around the world. A hydro-electric power plant...
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...Hydroelectric is a form of energy that’s used as a renewable resource. Hydropower provides about 96 percent of the renewable energy in the United States. Other renewable resources include geothermal, wave power, tidal power, wind power, and solar power. Hydroelectric power plants do not use up resources to create electricity nor do they pollute the air, land, or water, as other power plants may. Hydroelectric power has played an important part in the development of this Nation's electric power industry. Both small and large hydroelectric power developments were instrumental in the early expansion of the electric power industry. Hydroelectric power comes from flowing water winter and spring runoff from mountain streams and clear lakes. Water, when it is falling by the force of gravity, can be used to turn turbines and generators that produce electricity. Hydroelectric power is important to our Nation. Growing populations and modern technologies require vast amounts of electricity for creating, building, and expanding. In the 1920's, hydroelectric plants supplied as much as 40 percent of the electric energy produced. Although the amount of energy produced by this means has steadily increased, the amount produced by other types of power plants has increased at a faster rate and hydroelectric power presently supplies about 10 percent of the electrical generating capacity of the United States. Hydropower is an essential contributor in the national power grid because of its ability...
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...Over the last few years the world population has been increasing exponentially, and our earth sources have been depleting sharply. For this reason, scientists have been trying to find new kinds of resources that can protect earth sources and serve for long term. These renewable resources are important for our plant and our life as humans. There are different kinds of renewable resources that used to generate electric power such as solar and wind power. Recently, scientists created a new kind of renewable power which is tidal power. Tidal power is “the generation of electricity from the hydraulic energy that is produced by tidal currents of the ocean”(Culture&Morris,2006,p.449). This power depends on the gravitational tug from the moon which can produce a swift tide (Roach, 2003), and it basically works as an underwater windmills. There are many projects in different countries such as Norway, Scotland, United Kingdom, and United States. Most of these projects are under development, and still not ready for commercial uses. However, this power can be enormous, but we should think about the effects of this power in the marine environment, the costs, and the possibility to make it work. There are many projects in different countries. In United States, there are two companies which are trying to develop this power. The first one, Verdant Power, which made three experiments in New York City’s East River, found the success in providing a power enough to light a supermarket. The second...
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...1. List the five countries that are generating the largest percentage of their electricity from wind and produce an equivalent list for hydropower. Include in the list the percentage of their electricity that they obtain from this source and what percentage this is of their total energy usage. The following values were calculated using data accessed through the U.S. Energy Information Administration Website. Data was collected and a spreadsheet was formulated that calculated which countries had the highest percent of wind and hydroelectric energy consumed and generated domestically when considering all energy sources. 2009 data wind power Country | Total domestic electric generation | % of wind in domestic power generation | Wind Power Generation | Total energy consumption | % of total energy usage | Denmark | | | 34.2887 TWH | 54 | 18.62TWH | 33.958 TWH | 18.80 | Portugal | 46.826TWH | 33 | 15.37 TWH | 48.269 TWH | 14.91 | Germany | 546.7761 TWH | 6.71 | 36.71 TWH | 544.467 TWH | 6.74 | Spain | 274.693TWH | 4.75 | 13.07 TWH | 270.659 TWH | 13.26 | Greece | 57.5667 TWH | 4.20 | 2.42 TWH | 59.528 TWH | 4.05 | http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?tid=2&pid=37&aid=12&cid=regions&syid=2008&eyid=2010&unit=BKWH According to the Key World Energy Statistics prepared by the International Energy Agency the countries whose percent of hydroelectric power in domestic energy generation is the largest is Norway, Brazil, Venezuela...
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...like nuclear power, wind power, solar power, and coal and gas power plants. Hydroelectric power also does not emit greenhouse gases. So it does not hurt the environment by destroying the ozone layer of the Earth. While it does not give off any emissions, it creates a tremendous problem with the environment of the river from which it is harvesting power. For example, a dam and turbine stop salmon from going up the river to spawn every year, hence greatly decreasing salmon populations. So in some ways it really is, but in some ways it isn't the case that supposed to be. Water is a unique and valuable resource. The hydraulic energy generated from water offers unique advantages: It is environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral and natural. Hydropower allows us to...
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...The existing hydropower capacity that the hydropower produces is about eighty thousands megawatts (MW – one million watts or one thousand kilowatts). Hydropower power plants convert the energy that comes from the flowing water into electricity. The use of dams on rivers are the most common form of hydropower. The dams are used to create large reservoirs and then, the released water will come through turbines which later produces the electricity. (NREL, 2001) Hydropower plants do not produce air emissions into the atmosphere but they can affect the water quality and natural habitats of wildlife animals. However, hydropower plants are now being designed and operated to minimise the impacts on the river. For example, by diverting a portion of the water flow around the dams to mimic the natural flow of the river but it is also reduced the power plant’s output. Other approaches such as improved turbines are also used to assist fish with their migration and lower the number of fish being killed. (NREL,...
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...Before using Solar Power: Samad lived in a village. He was illiterate. There was no connection of electricity. He has 3 children. His attitude was not charming. His room fills with darkness and dampness. Using kerosene, the surface of his room and other utensils had a layer of ash. Every night Samad sleeping without wash his leg. Because of high cost of kerosene, Samad not give chance to study his children at night. Otherwise he had not any communication media like, TV, Radio etc. It is therefore, he was verdant about many things of the country. His life was full of Superstitious. After using Solar Power: Samad’s wife feels interest to solar power after watching in a relative’s house. First Smad feel Apathy for using this. He said that solar power only for literate people. Samad’s wife said that it’s very easy to use. Enduring Samad’s wife explains to Samad for buying solar in installment. In the first day using solar power they felt very happy. Than switched on the light they saw the garbage around the house. They also saw that their feet were very dirty. They washes away their feet and gone to sleep. Next day they clean their house. This solar power lightens the Samad’s mind. He thought that he doesn’t have to pay any electricity bill, and also no load shedding. He buys a TV. He knows about the current world and also modern cultivation systems. And also he took up the restriction from his children to study in the night. His successes risen day by...
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...Indian Power Sector - Challenges and Opportunities 1. Evolution of Indian Power Sector Since independence in 1947 Indian Power Sector progress has been rapid. From mere 1713 MW of installed capacity in 1950 the capacity at the end of March 2007 rose to 124569 excluding capacity of renewable energy. Total generation in April 2006-March 2007 was 659419 GWh in the utility sector. The per capita consumption of electricity increased from 15 KWh in 1950 to 619 in 2006-07. 2. Demand/Availability Position for the Year 2006-07 Region Peak Demand (MW) 32487 Availability (+)(-) (%) -2826 -8.70% -6026 -17.15% -1799 -6.56% -474 -4.14% -161 -10.39% -11286 -10.44% Energy Requirement (GWH) 209137 Availability (+) (-) (%) -13150 -6.29% -27833 -11.92% -6536 -3.71% -2117 -3.00% -774 -9.07% -50410 -7.22% Northern 29661 195987 Western 35143 29117 233486 205653 Southern 27441 25642 176037 169501 Eastern 11436 10962 70547 68430 North Eastern 1549 1388 8534 7760 All India Aggregate peak 108056 96770 697741 647331 The summery of the energy requirement and expected peak demand from 2007-08 to 2011-12 are given below: Energy requirement at Power Station Bus bars (Utilities only) (in GWh) From 2007-08 to 2011-12 Region Northern Region Western Region Southern Region Eastern Region 2007-08 2008-09 223928 244481 189312 77221 239807 256075 203606 84601 2009-1 0 256859 268307 219001 92767 2010-11 275171 281220 235582...
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...Before using Solar Power: Samad lived in a village. He was illiterate. There was no connection of electricity. He has 3 children. His attitude was not charming. His room fills with darkness and dampness. Using kerosene, the surface of his room and other utensils had a layer of ash. Every night Samad sleeping without wash his leg. Because of high cost of kerosene, Samad not give chance to study his children at night. Otherwise he had not any communication media like, TV, Radio etc. It is therefore, he was verdant about many things of the country. His life was full of Superstitious. After using Solar Power: Samad’s wife feels interest to solar power after watching in a relative’s house. First Smad feel Apathy for using this. He said that solar power only for literate people. Samad’s wife said that it’s very easy to use. Enduring Samad’s wife explains to Samad for buying solar in installment. In the first day using solar power they felt very happy. Than switched on the light they saw the garbage around the house. They also saw that their feet were very dirty. They washes away their feet and gone to sleep. Next day they clean their house. This solar power lightens the Samad’s mind. He thought that he doesn’t have to pay any electricity bill, and also no load shedding. He buys a TV. He knows about the current world and also modern cultivation systems. And also he took up the restriction from his children to study in the night. His successes risen day by...
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...SHUT YOUR FACE GRANDMA V Caracas (AFP) - A long weekend could mean three precious days to catch up on sleep, spend time with family, enjoy a getaway... or, in Venezuela, standing in snaking lines at supermarkets whose shelves are bare and whose lights could go out at any minute. That was how Isleida, a government employee at the Venezuelan transport ministry, planned to spend the first of two months of mandatory Fridays off. The measure, which applies across the public sector, was decreed this week by President Nicolas Maduro as part of an emergency plan to save electricity while Venezuela struggles through an economic crisis and a severe power shortage. Isleida spent the morning doing housework, then planned to go shop for food -- a scarce commodity in the recession-racked country. "It shouldn't be like this. We're paralyzing the country. Lots of things aren't getting done," said Isleida, a 50-something woman whose name has been changed to protect her from scrutiny -- or worse -- by government officials. The socialist government blames the electricity shortage on three years of drought, which have choked off the 18 hydroelectric dams the country relies on for power. But some economists warned that shutting down the public sector once a week would only make the recession worse. "The impact of the electricity crisis will be devastating for the country's productivity, which was already clearly depressed. It's horrifying to see the condition of our economy and infrastructure...
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...Hydropower and Nuclear power Theresea Duplesis SCI 207 Dependence of Man on the Environment Gayle Leith February 13, 2012 At a time when our country needs to focus on not only domestic energy production, and ways to improve it, it also needs to find ways to create jobs. We have found that hydropower can play a critical role in doing both, by providing us with clean renewable energy while also helping to expand the job opportunities in rural America. (Tipton, 2012) Hydropower has already been found too serve a number of purposes, one it can produce renewable and emission-free energy. This in turn can be used to pump water or sell electricity to the grid. It also tends to help hydropower developers to pay for aging infrastructures and the modernization of water/power facilities. It also helps with creating local jobs and generating revenue for the Federal government. (Tipton, 2012) Legislation has been trying to find ways to streamline the regulatory process and to reduce administration costs. (Tipton, 2012) Developers have found that hydropower is one of the cheapest and cleanest sources of electricity. Even though, “Hydropower has been found to be the highest source of non-carbon emitting energy in the world.” It still only accounts for 75% of the United States total renewable electricity generation. (Tipton, 2012) Nevertheless, because of many unnecessary regulations that stand in their way only a few of the western...
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...5th December 2015 Mr. Steive Murray Managing Director Murray Hydropower Ltd. Houston,Texas ,USA Dear Mr.Murray, It has come to my notice that you are interested to invest in Hydropower sector in Nepal. I can assure you that this sector will have a profound and long lasting impact on the socio-economic as well as political lives of the Nepalese people.I also received the information that you are much aware about the political crisis prevailing in our country. A lack of political stability, good governance and law and order issues are important factors hindering progress and economic growth. Frequent changes of ministers and the government, lack of inter-governmental agency co-ordination and prolonged processes and procedures for environmental clearances from the government have been posing a major threat to hydropower development in Nepal.However, I can assure you that, with the effective implementation of the new constitution, Nepal will have a smooth business environment. It is often quoted that the hydropower potential of Nepal is 83,000 MW. Despite this huge potential in hydropower, just over a 600 MW is currently produced. As a result, majority of the population has been forced to live with long hours of power-cuts throughout the year. The situation gets worse particularly in the dry seasons, where Nepalese had to face power cuts of up to 10-11 hours per day. Such long power cuts undoubtedly have a major impact on the socio-economic issues...
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...It is true that no law on hydropower in place is also a big challenge to escalate this sector. To develop a hydropower project, they have to seek a Memorandum of Understanding with MIME to conduct and prepare a feasible study, potentially taking one to two years to complete (Middleton, 2008). According to MoE, all hydropower projects must be subject to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), strictly conducted according to the procedures set out by MoE, and the EIA process shall be made available for public comments. Completed EIAs must be submitted to MoE, considering whether the report is adequate and make recommendations prior to the approval (Prakas on Environmental Impact Assessment ,...
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