Electric+Energy+(Hydroelectric+technology)

**Hydroelectric Energy**
Hydroelectric power comes from the gravitational force of falling and moving water. Most of the power comes from the potential energy from a river with a dam on it. Although, the first types of hydroelectric power came from waterwheels, which could just go on top of a creek, river or other moving water source. Another source of hydroelectric power is a tidal power plant, which uses the daily fall and rise from tides. There are many advantages for making hydro dams, such as the elimination of the cost of fuel. The cost of operating a hydroelectric plant is nearly immune to increases in the cost of fossil fuels. The hydroelectric plants also have a longer lives compared to fuel burning plants. Hydroelectric dams do not contribute to increasing amounts of carbon dioxide on the Earth. They produce no CO2 while they are running, but some is produced in the making of the dam.

Hydroelectric dams are created by first placing a dam on a river or reservoir. Waters runs through the intake, then into the penstock, and the force of the water moves a turbine which, in turn, moves the generator, creating electricity. That electricity is then transferred through power lines to towns, cities and other areas requiring power.

The cost of a hydroelectric dam varies depending on how big, how much materials are needed, and where it is built. The Hoover dam, for example, cost $ 165,000,000.

Some disadvantages of hydroelectric dams can have serious effects. The main serious disadvantage is failure of the dam. This can cause environmental damage, loss of lives, and loss of electricity. There are many examples of power outages from dam failures, such as the November 2009 Brazil and Paraguay blackout. A hydroelectric dam can also have limited service life, due to silt building up behind the dam, decreasing the dam's water storage.

The Three Gorges Dam in China, the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.

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