Hydropower Veronica Behman, Johanna Carroll, Victoria Tang CMENG12 Energy Seminar Presentation

● Power from movement of water ● 3 basic types o Tidal o Waves o Reservoir Overview

● Relies on water cycle ● Mechanical energy → electrical energy o Run-of-the-river system o Storage system ● 19% of world electricity production Current State

● Tides caused by moon’s gravitational pull ● Used to produce energy o Economical if over 10ft of variation o More reliable than wind and solar ● Beginning to become viable Current State: Tidal

● Tidal barrage o Simple dam-like structure at tidal basin ● Tidal fence o Water forced through vertical turbines ● Tidal turbines o “Wind turbines in water” Current State: Tidal

Tidal Barrage

● Generate electricity, pump water into reservoirs ● 252 billion kWh in U.S. o 6% of electricity generation in US ● Focus waves into narrow channel o Directly spin turbines Current State: Waves

● Underwater devices, devices on top of waves ● Technology o Oscillating water column  Air compressed in chambers, air in turbine o Point absorber buoy  Surface, buoys drive hydraulic pump Current State: Waves

Oscillating Water Column

● Height of water level in dam determines energy output o Easily changed when necessary ● Reservoir, Intake, Penstock, Turbine, Outlet ● Generator to powerhouse o Transformer to cables Current State: Reservoir

Reservoir Power Generation Process

● Increase in small facilities ● Studies in turbine technologies ● Reduce environmental impacts o Emissions in reservoirs o Harm to ecosystems o Fish migration Future

● Industrial o 60% of use o Developing economies o Latin America and Asia = 60% global activity ● Utilities and consumers o Depends on geographics Target Market

● Political o Environmental issues ● Technical o Geographical constraints ● Financial o High capital costs o High investment costs Roadblocks

● Minimal pollution ● Renewable ● Greenhouse gas emissions ● Reliable technology ● Low maintenance costs, long lifetime ● No dependence on imports/oil ● Sustainable economic development Advantages

● Passage restrictions ● High investment costs ● Environmental impacts ● Dependent on o Bodies of water o Solar energy o Changing water quality/quantity, precipitation Disadvantages

● US: o Appleton, WI plant  First operating hydroelectric power plant o Grand Coulee Dam, WA  Largest hydroelectric plant ● Niagara Falls o First built ● China - largest producer of hydroelectricity o Yangtze River Examples

Hydropower in the US

Costs ● Capital costs o 85-90% of total cost=development of site o 10%=turbine, generators, control system ● $1000/kW to $8000/kW investment costs o $500/kW to add to existing dams ● Generally high initial costs

● Avg LCOE $0.04/kWh x 518kWh/month= $20.72 o Assumed 10% capital costs ● Most cost-competitive generating option Generating Costs

Table of Costs

● Depends on size of power plant ● Different ranges o 5-8 years o Georgia (country): 3 power plants, 14 years each ● Offset by long lifetimes of plants Payback Period

Sources