Hydro Electricity

Many hundreds of years ago hydro electricity was one of the most used forms of power. There would be small cottages with water turbines on the side to make power to grind corn.
The first use of water to generate electricity was in 1882 on the Fox River, in the USA, which produced enough power to light two paper mills and a house.
Many cottages in England and Ireland are receiving funding to renovate them so they can have a water turbine as they used to.

A dam is another way to get free and green electricity. There would be a big wall under the river that would trap the water to make it go through a smaller space. So the water will be pushing to get through so when it goes through it would be going through at a high force and it would turn the turbine which would be turning wire in the generator make electricity.

Disadvantages with Hydro electricity!

1. The dams are very expensive to build.
However, many dams are also used for flood control or irrigation, so building costs can be shared.
2. Building a large dam will flood a very large area upstream, causing problems for animals that used to live there.
3. Finding a suitable site can be difficult - the impact on residents and the environment may be unacceptable.
4. Water quality and quantity downstream can be affected, which can have an impact on plant life.

Advantages with Hydro electricity!

1. Once the dam is built, the energy is virtually free.
2. No waste or pollution produced.
3. Much more reliable than wind, solar or wave power.
4. Water can be stored above the dam ready to cope with peaks in demand.
5. Hydro-electric power stations can increase to full power very quickly, unlike other power stations.
6. Electricity can be generated constantly

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