Hydropower is a Leading Source of Green Energy
Hydropower was one of the first sources of electricity generation, and in 2018, was the leading source of electricity generation in the United States from all green energy resources. As of 2019, electricity generated from hydropower accounted for 6.6% of total U.S. net generation and 38% of the total net generation from green renewable resources. In recent years, hydropower has lost ground to other renewable energy sources, mainly due to an increase in investments to these other sources.
History of Hydropower
The idea of generating the power of rivers and streams into energy that serves useful purposes has been around for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks are given credit for inventing the waterwheel more than 2,000 years ago. Waterwheels work by utilizing the power of falling water to generate power by using a set of paddles mounted around the wheel. The power of falling water hitting the paddles creates a spinning motion used to generate power.
In recent times, waterwheels have been replaced by large water turbines. The first such water turbine was used in Grand Rapids, Michigan to provide lighting to a theatre and storefront. By 1882, the world’s first hydroelectric water plant was set up to provide power to a paper mill in Appleton, Wisconsin. Just six years later, over 40 hydroelectric power plants were operating in the United States and Canada providing power to over 200 electric companies that relied on hydropower as part of their generation portfolio.
Today, hydropower continues to play a vital role in the generation of electricity. The Great Northwest along the Columbia River is home to the largest hydroelectric power plant in the United States. The Grand Coulee Dam has a capacity of 6,809 megawatts (MW) and generates over 21 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Hoover Dam in comparison, has a capacity of 2,074 MW and generates about four billion kilowatt-hours per year. Right now, there are over 2,400 dams in the U.S. that produce power.
Impact Hydropower plays on the Environment
Although Hydropower is considered a clean source of energy and does not emit any pollutants, it does carry a few unattended consequences for the environment. The biggest and maybe most obvious is the obstruction it plays on the migration of fish. Salmon, especially in the northwest, have been negatively impacted as dams can block migration pathways or in some cases have inundated important spawning habitats. Some solutions have been created over the years including creating fish passage facilities and fish ladders to help salmon navigate around the dams.
Dams can affect the natural temperature of the water, river flow characteristics, water chemistry, and silt loads. All of these changes can have negative impacts on plants and wildlife in and around the river. The operation and maintenance of the dam can also play a role in changing the environment around the facility, including the relocation of people. These impacts can eventually spread to an area larger than the dam and the reservoir itself.
It is argued hydropower is not completely emission-free, as large equipment is needed to make the steel and concrete associated with building a dam. Fossil fuel plays a part to create the raw materials needed to construct these massive structures. However, given the long life-span of dams, the emissions created by the construction is more than offset by the years of emission-free hydroelectricity.
Hydropower as a Green Energy Plan
If you live in an area that is deregulated, you may be able to incorporate hydroelectricity into your rate plan. Energy suppliers are becoming more competitive when it comes to offering green energy plans. A provider may give you the option to have your power generated from 100% renewable energy sources. This means 100% of your estimated usage during the contract term will be generated from renewable energy sources and uploaded to the power grid. The 100% renewable energy plan being offered by energy suppliers is a great way to mitigate your carbon footprint.
Having a percentage of hydropower incorporated into your rate plan may vary depending on where you live. Residential and business customers living in the northwest are surrounded by rivers that make it easier to incorporate hydroelectricity into their energy usage. However, if you’re living in an area where flowing water and dams are minimal, it’s more than likely a greater percentage of your renewable energy plan will come from sources such as wind power and biofuels.