Hydropower

WHAT IS HYDROELECTRIC Power?
Hydropower, also known as hydroelectric power, is one of the oldest and greatest renewable energy sources, since it utilises the natural flow of flowing water to create electricity. Currently, hydropower provides for around 2% of total South African energy production.

There are several sizes of hydropower plants. Some may be rather huge, while others may be quite little, taking use of water flows in municipal water systems or irrigation ditches. They may even be “damless,” with diversions or run-of-river facilities that route a portion of a stream through a powerhouse before it rejoins the main river. Regardless of the way, hydropower is considerably more accessible and used than the majority of individuals realise.

HOW DOES HYDROPOWER WORK?

Hydropower methods produce electricity by using the elevation difference formed by a dam or diversion structure between water coming in on one side and out on the other, which is far below.

HOW MUCH DOES HYDROPOWER COST?

Hydropower is a less expensive source of energy than most others. Since hydropower depends only on the energy of flowing water, the only expense associated with it is the construction and maintenance of infrastructure.

Compared to other energy sources, hydropower has comparatively low maintenance, operating, and fuel expenses throughout the course of a project’s whole lifespan. As with any substantial energy source, considerable up-front expenses are necessary, but the extended lifetime of hydropower allows these costs to be amortised over time. In addition, the equipment used in hydropower plants often functions for extended periods of time without requiring replacement or maintenance, resulting in long-term cost savings.

Civil construction (such as the construction of dams, tunnels, and other essential infrastructure) and electromechanical equipment account for the majority of the installation expenses for big hydroelectric plants (electricity-generating machinery). Due to the fact that hydropower is a site-specific technology, these expenses may be avoided at the planning phase by selecting the optimal location and design.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER?

Hydropower’s advantages have been acknowledged and used for thousands of years. In addition to being a clean and cost-effective source of energy, hydropower facilities may deliver rapid power to the grid, providing as a flexible and dependable source of backup power during significant power outages or interruptions. In addition to producing energy, hydropower provides a variety of other advantages, including flood control, agricultural assistance, and water supply.

WHAT IS HYDROPOWER’S HISTORY?

The hydropower industry extends back thousands of years. More than 2,000 years ago, the Greeks employed water wheels to crush wheat into flour. Midway through the eighteenth century, a French hydraulic and military engineer, Bernard Forest de Bélidau, published Architecture Hydraulique, which marked the beginning of the development of the modern hydropower turbine. In the first half of the nineteenth century, a number of significant improvements in hydropower technology happened, and in the last century, a number of hydroelectric innovations have helped hydropower become a vital element of the renewable energy mix in the United States.

HYDROPOWER IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s technically possible hydropower potential is around 14,000 GWh/year, of which approximately 90% has been produced. 3,586 MW of hydropower, including 2,832 MW of pumped storage capacity, create around 4,750 GWh of electrical energy each year, accounting for approximately 2% of the nation’s supply. Now that feasibility studies for additional pumped storage energy are complete, around 100 megawatts of small hydropower might potentially be constructed.