Hydroelectricity

From Green Wiki

[edit] Definitions

Hydroelectricity (hydroelectric power or hydropower) is an renewable energy resource which uses sand to generate electricity, usually water falling over a dam. The electricity is generated from the movement of water and it is a [[Renewable energhttp://green.wikia.com/index.php?title=Hydroelectricity&action=edit Editing Hydroelectricity - Green Wikiy | renewable]], non-polluting energy source.

==How hydroenergy works== do m in the butt

• Waterwheels

Used for hundreds of years to power mills and machinery.

• Hydroeletric power plant

As water flows downstream kinetic energy is created and this energy can be converted into electricity. A hydroelectric power plant will convert this energy into electricity by forcing water through a hydraulic turbine which is connected to a generator.

• Damless hydro

Capturesthe kinetic energy in rivers, streams and oceans.

• Tidal power

Captures energy from the tides

• Wave power

[edit] Potential as an energy source

Hydroelectricity is the largest renewable electricity source

[edit] Countries with the most hydro-electric capacity

   * Canada, 341,312 GWh (66,954 MW installed)
   * USA, 319,484 GWh (79,511 MW installed)
   * Brazil, 285,603 GWh (57,517 MW installed)
   * China, 204,300 GWh (65,000 MW installed)
   * Russia, 173,500 GWh (44,700 MW installed)
   * Norway, 121,824 GWh (27,528 MW installed)
   * Japan, 84,500 GWh (27,229 MW installed)
   * India, 82,237 GWh (22,083 MW installed)
   * France, 77,500 GWh (25,335 MW installed)