Hydroelectric Power as a Clean and Renewable Source of Energy - Essay Example

The paper "Hydroelectric Power as a Clean and Renewable Source of Energy" is an outstanding example of an essay on engineering and construction. A hydroelectric power or simply hydropower is a way of generating electrical energy through the use of the force and energy of falling water. It is a clean and environmentally friendly source of energy creation. As petroleum and other fossil fuels become scarcer being non-renewable sources of energy, hydroelectricity is becoming a much more convenient and secure resource.
Hydroelectric power plants use the conventional phenomenon of the water wheel to produce electricity. This wheel was first introduced in 1882 and to date, hydroelectricity continues to be a major source of energy amounting up to 24% of the world’s electricity.
Hydropower plants use simple mechanics to convert the gravitational force of water into electricity. Such a plant is set up on basic components such as a dam, turbines, generators, and of course water falling with great force.
All hydropower plants consist of a dam that is used to hold water. When the gates of the dam open, water forces its way with great pressure which rotates the large blades of the turbines. As the turbines spin, so does the magnets inside the generators which are directly connected to the turbines. There is a network of copper coils that work along with the magnets to produce alternating current. This current is then passed to the transformer which then converts it into high voltage current and supplies it to various places through power lines (Sherman & Josepha, 2004).
With the increased popularity of hydroelectric plants as a clean and renewable source of energy, environmental concerns regarding floods associated with the building of large dams for such plants are also increasing.