Activity 3.2.3 - Alternative Energy: Hydroelectric Energy

Alternative Energy

The majority of energy that the globe uses is non renewable, harmful energy that will eventually run out. Alternative energies are different sources of energy that can be reused and renewed, without harming the earth as much as non renewable ones. Non renewable energies are things like fossil fuels such as coal, which cannot be renewed, and create tons of carbon emissions that damage the earth over time. These negative effects on earth are why scientists and regular people alike are finding new ways to power the world.

Alternative energy is starting to become a new prominent topic in the world’s search for longevity. These types of energies such as wind, solar, and hydro are all examples of how scientists are figuring out ways to make the world healthier, while still providing power to it. The energies that are being studied can last longer than fossil fuels, renew just as much as they are used, and they are more sustainable for the environment. Although there is convenience with using non renewable resources, they won’t last forever and neither will the earth. Non renewable energies have done a lot of permanent damage to the earth, and humans will start to reap what they sowed very soon.

Hydropower is a great example of a renewable resource that has been implemented in the past, while still being a relevant topic today. Hydroelectric power uses water moving at high speeds or to hit an object to generate electricity. Things like mills, which water pushes and continuously moves, or dams, which water sits and then rushes down, have been shown to generate sustainable energy. The majority of hydroelectric power facilities use things like turbines and generators, or dams that rush down a stream and into a river below. Hydro power is one of the main heavy hitters in renewable energy, which “In the U.S., account for about 10% of total production and about 35% of the United States’ renewable energy consumption” (Mutiti et al. 15). The reason why hydroelectric energy is a main renewable source is because of how repetitious and quick it can be. One source of hydro power is pumped-storage hydro power, in which water from a lower reservoir gets pumped to a higher reservoir to flow back downhill through a turbine, which generates electricity. Hydroelectric power is a positive source of energy looking towards the future, but it does come with its set of drawbacks. Hydropower has a very negative impact on the environment involved with it. A dam can block fish from migrating upstream to mate and reproduce, turbines are known to injure and kill those that pass through it, and  hydropower impacts populations of life as a whole. When creating storage hydropower systems, the ecology of the environment around the system is modified and destroyed. People, animals, and even plants are forced out of their homes and made to move away by these renewable creations. There is consideration being taken into creating these systems though, like how fish ladders are being implemented so fish can still swim upstream.

While renewable energies like hydropower are good for the world and its evolving future, it still has ways to go before they can fully take over as main energy resources. The convenience of fossil fuels and its overwhelming dominance in the energy game is still much too strong for it to be taken down. This will soon change though, with fossil fuels running out and doing overwhelming harm to the environment. Renewable energies are here to stay, and they will continue to get better as technology advances.

Sources Cited: 

Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia.