Hydro · 8 min read · Energy Atlas Editorial

Hydropower

Falling or flowing water turns turbines. It is the oldest large-scale renewable electricity source still expanding in some regions.

hydro

The hydrological cycle is solar-powered. Hydropower intercepts water on its way downhill. Energy available scales with head and flow. Plants can last many decades. Geography, ecology, and hydrology bound the resource.

Technology

Hydropower Plant

A plant that converts the potential energy of stored or flowing water into electricity, including pumped-storage variants.

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Articles

Francis, Kaplan, and Pelton Turbines

Three classic machines cover most hydraulic heads used in hydroelectric plants.

8 min read

Pumped-Storage Hydropower

Two reservoirs and a reversible plant make the largest form of grid electricity storage in many countries.

7 min read

Questions

What is the efficiency of different power plants?

Efficiency depends on the conversion physics. Do not use one number for every nuclear, coal, or solar plant.