1. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved. 1

2. Answer the following questions on a sheet of paper. 1. What comes to mind when you think of renewable energy? List three examples. 2. What are three reasons coal and fossil fuels are not a good energy source to meet our future energy needs? 2 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

3. There are several important terms and definitions students need to know. 1. Complete Introduction to Hydropower Energy Terms and Definitions. 2. Students may work in groups. 3 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

4. Water is a powerful energy source. Throughout history, we have harnessed the power of water to perform tasks. The ancient Greeks used large water wheels driven by rivers to grind grain. Hydropower, created by using simple, proven mechanical principles, has been in use for thousands of years. Modern technology gives us the capacity to use flowing water to turn turbine wheels on high-output electrical generators. 4 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

5. Our planet maintains a consistent water level in order to sustain life. However, at any given time, some areas may have more water than others. This is due to the hydrologic cycle that occurs naturally. 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

6. 6 A hydropower plant is an energy production facility designed to take advantage of the stored energy in water. Flowing water is a powerful force that can be used to turn electrical generators. Several designs are in use around the world to efficiently turn water energy into electrical energy. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

7. Hydropower can also be used in locations where high levels of water flow does not occur naturally. Pumped storage facilities use large upper and lower reservoirs to store water until it is needed to drive the turbines on electrical generators. 7 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

8. A Micro-hydropower facility is a great option for a rural setting that does not have access to commercial electrical energy. If a flowing body of water is available, a micro-hydro facility can be installed to take advantage of the energy in the flowing water. 8 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.