Renewable Energy: Water Power

Renewable Energy: Water Power. . Children's Science and Nature Area , Niagara Region , Renewable Energy: Water Power , The energy of moving water can be captured to do useful work or generate electricity. This is called hydropower. Water flowing in a river or falling down a waterfall is the most common way to generate hydropower, but there are other forms of moving water that can be used. Water movement caused by ocean waves, currents and tides can also be used to generate hydropower. Hydropower generation is the most efficient forms of energy production. , , Did you know? Canada is one of the world's largest producers of hydroelectricity. About 60 per cent of Canada's electricity comes from the energy of falling water. , The earliest forms of hydropower were water wheels. In the days before electricity, it was common to use water wheels to provide power for mills. These mills were located next to a river and used the water power to grind grain or cut lumber, for example. Water from the river was used to turn the water wheel. The water wheel was connected to a large millstone or metal saw blade through a system of gears. As the water wheel turned, so did the millstone, sawblade or other machinery. , Hydroelectricity: Electricity generated by moving water is called hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is widely used in both rural and urban areas due to the abundance of rivers and streams. Worldwide, hydroelectricity makes up one quarter of the electricity supply. Right here in Niagara Region, the water from Niagara Falls is used to generate electricity. , Hydroelectricity in Niagara Falls Today: The three hydroelectricity stations in Niagara (two in Canada and one in the US) supply one quarter of the power used in Ontario and New York State. Together, these stations form the largest source of hydroelectric power in North America. These stations are built directly opposite each other along the Niagara River below the Falls. The two Sir Adam Beck Power Stations are located on the Ontario side and the Robert Moses Hydroelectric Plant is located on the New York Side. , How It's Done: The general idea behind producing electricity from water flowing in the Niagara River removing water from the river before it reaches the Falls. It is transported in canals or underground tunnels to a power generating station, which is located along the river below the Falls. Between these two points, the water descends approximately 97 metres or about twice the height of the Falls. The energy from this "falling" water is used to spin large turbines. The turbines generate electricity, which leaves the station and is distributed to electricity users. After passing through the turbines, the water is returned to the river below the Falls. , Inside the Power Plant: At a hydroelectric power station, water falls a long distance through a pipe (called a penstock) and pushes the blades of a turbine. This causes the turbine to spin very fast. The shaft of the turbine is attached to electromagnets. In the generator, the spinning electromagnets create electricity. This electricity is sent to transformers, where its voltage is increased for long distance travel through power lines. , Milestones of Local Hydroelectricity History , - 1875: the first powerhouse to take water from above the Falls, through a hydro canal, to turbines near the base of the American Falls begins operating. , - 1882: Jacob Schoellkopf builds a small powerhouse at the end of the canal and installs a small generator, providing of electricity to light Niagara Falls and illuminate the Falls. The direct current form of electricity could not be transported more than three km. , - 1895: Niagara Falls Power Co. builds Adams Powerhouse #1 above the American Falls. It is the first hydroelectric plant to produce alternating current electricity, which is better for transmitting over long distances. , - 1956: Ontario Hydro builds a 3 km water reservoir at the Sir Adam Beck Power Stations. Schoellkopf Powerhouse #2 collapses causing a disaster that resulted in one death and a sudden loss of power from the grid. , - 1961: A new power station, The New York Power Project, is built replacing the Schoellkopf Power Station. Today, it is the largest of the Niagara power stations. , - 2005: Ontario Power Generation begins construction of the Niagara Tunnel. It increases electricity production by 14% in 2013. It uses the largest hard rock tunnel boring machine in the world, named Big Becky, to dig a 14.4 m wide tunnel.