Using Water to Create Power By: Ibrahim Kmaiha Flow Resources Using Water to Create Power By: Ibrahim Kmaiha

Using water to create power Introduction People have used water energy for thousands of years Today many factors decide weather a country should use water to generate electricity or not. Countries with hilly landscapes or powerful rivers should use hydro power while countries with coastal waters should use tidal or wave power.

Hydro Electric Dams Some hydro dams are built on rivers with large drops in elevation or fast-flowing rivers. Dams direct water to go through a turbine. The turbine’s blades spin than powers the generator. China produces the most hydro power in the world. There are different perspectives on whether hydroelectricity is a sustainable energy source for the future.

Ocean Tides Tides are the rise and flow of the ocean and occur once or twice a day. Today, many methods are used to turn tidal power into electricity. One is a tidal barrage. A tidal barrage is a large dam used in locations where there is a great range between high and low tides. When the tide comes in, water rises behind the dam. As it flows back to the ocean, it turns turbines into the dam. The turbines create electricity through generators.

Use of Tidal technology An advantage of tidal technology is that the energy source is reliable. Tides rise and fall everyday. However a tidal barrage does affect ecosystems. Beaches that are drained of water are not exposed for as long as they used to be. Tidal barrages also change the water level timing. This changes the grows of algae and the creatures that depend on it for survival.

Waves Create Power There are only a few wave generator plants in use. Wave generator plants are installed below the ocean surface. If wave power was used properly, it could provide at least 10% of the worlds energy supply. However waves are consistent and strong everywhere in the ocean. Wave generator plants are not salt resistant. But they do not release chemicals. There are many places they could be placed so it could be used.