Hydroelectricity: The logical Future

With the steepening prices of dwindling oil and the greenhouse effect ever looming society is having to find a new well sound source of energy. The world is trying to stay away from nonrenewable resources such as oil and natural gas. They also want an energy source that does not emit many greenhouse gases. The decision they make will affect how the world is in future generations. Pick the wrong one and humans may one day have to walk outside in hazmat gear. Pick the right one and technology and nature may flourish as never before seen. Some of the sources considered are nuclear energy, thermal energy, fossil fuel, wind power, solar power, and hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is an energy source that takes river or other fast moving body of water and blocks it creating water pressure. It then opens the dam in specified areas making the water pressure shoot out at high rates. This water pressure then moves the turbines which creates energy and that energy is sent to a generator to create electricity. That electricity is then stored and distributed where needed. In this essay I will prove to you why hydroelectricity is the logically choice for the world’s energy source. I will show this by using two main factors. Factor one is that hydroelectricity is environmentally friendly. Factor two is that hydroelectricity is economically sound. These two factors have substantial evidence to support them. With these two factors it should be quite apparent that hydroelectricity is a sound choice for the world’s energy source. Hydroelectricity is the logical solution for the world’s energy problems.

Our future energy needs should be met using hydroelectricity due to its environmentally friendly position. A major environmental problem affecting the world today is over greenhouse gases. Since hydroelectricity does not burn or use fossil fuels it gives off no carbon dioxide. With at least 81.2 percent of greenhouse gases coming from energy related carbon dioxide, hydroelectricity seems extremely environmentally friendly (EIA) According to a study done by the European commission, hydroelectricity is ranked first in greenhouse gas production. It placed higher than wind, nuclear, or even solar energy. The only greenhouse gases given off by this energy source is the gases made by the decomposed vegetation below the water surface. Along with the greenhouse effect, hydroelectricity is environmentally friendly due to its use of holding back potential floodwaters. Just as bayous hold back potential floods, dams can stop flooding to areas that are highly populated with animals and vegetations. This helps the normally endangered animal population to have safe haven in normally dangerous areas. Hydroelectricity not only helps preserve animal population, but it helps humans to survive (EBSCO). Dams help control and save water for agriculture in areas that normally would have severe droughts. Hydroelectricity is the most environmentally friendly choice for our energy needs.

Although hydroelectricity has substantial amounts of evidence supporting its environmental position, some experts believe that it is damaging to the environment. Experts claim that hydroelectricity hurts the animal population around it by disrupting salmon spawning routines. Although this may be true to an extent, dams are now fitted specialized stair-steps that allow the salmon to continue upstream without being blocked by the dam (EBSCO). These stairs are now fitted onto almost all dams made and have allowed hydroelectric power to continue and let the salmon migration to be uninterrupted. The other claim against hydroelectricity and its environmental friendliness is the human environment that these dams uproot. Hydroelectric dams require large amounts of lands on areas that are normally populated by humans. When these dams go in the populations must be relocated. Although the residents are often compensated, the experts argue that the cultural and ceremonial property of the land cannot be paid for. This seems to be a weak argument. It is true that dams require some populations to be uprooted, but economically these dams bring jobs and an economy booster that help these populations. Even though there are arguments against hydroelectricity and its friendliness towards the environment, they are primarily weak and have solutions that the hydroelectric companies use.

A major battle over the energy crisis is finding an energy source that is economically sound, hydroelectricity is this source. Hydroelectricity creates 97 percent of the nation’s renewable energy’s electricity. The power production cost per kilowatt using hydroelectricity is 9 cents compared to nonrenewable fuels such as nuclear power at 19 cents. This is partly due to the amount of manpower needed. Dams require less security than a nuclear and less oversight. No special scientists are needed; hydropower is more of an engineering feat then a science experience. This makes the operating costs substantially lower and allow it to cheaper power. Along with this, hydroelectricity functions at a 90 percent production rate compared to the nonrenewable sources that function at no more than 50 percent (EBSCO). This means more power over time and according to the supply in demand rule when there is more power it will be cheaper. Hydroelectric facilities have a relatively long lifespan lasting 100 years or more. This is due in part to the way in which they deal with noncorrosive or harmful sources. And is due in part to the construction of the plant. Concrete buildings normally do not wither away quickly. Once built these plants pay for themselves relatively quickly, in under a decade, and are then all profit for the next century. Economically hydroelectric facility plants substantially beat all other energy sources.

Most experts agree that hydroelectricity is economically sound; the only disadvantagable point is siltation. When forests and vegetation are pushed underwater they mix with rocks and are ground up into silt. That silt and sediment are swirled into the passing water and then is pushed through the dam. This then builds up in the dam and lowers productivity. Over time experts feel that this silt buildup can completely shut down some dams. There are some precautions used to prevent this. Foresting the area before dam production, sediment bypassing and other solutions have all been used, and are extremely successful (Getting More). As this minor problem is getting fixed most experts agree that hydroelectricity is extremely economically friendly.

Hydroelectricity is the best choice for the world’s main energy source. This is shown in the way it is highly economically sound and environmentally friendly. It releases few greenhouse gases and is one of the cheapest electrical sources. Hydroelectricity has been proven to work in many countries. Norway produces 98 percent of its electricity needs through hydroelectricity. Paraguay produces over 100 percent of its nations energy needs by hydroelectricity (IEA). On top of this Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, and Venezuela fulfill their nation’s energy needs through hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity has been proven to work in not only small countries, but extremely large countries. It is a sound source of energy and should be the main energy choice for the world. Hydroelectricity is the best choice for the world’s energy needs.

Works Cited
Childress, Vincent W. "Energy Perspective: Is Hydroelectricity Green? (Cover story)." Technology Teacher 68.4 (2008): 4-9. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2009.
Bakis, R. "The Current Status and Future Opportunities of Hydroelectricity." Energy Sources Part B: Economics, Planning & Policy 2.3 (2007): 259-266. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2009.
Sood, Narinderpal S. "Getting More Out of Existing Power Plants." Proceedings of World Academy of Science: Engineering & Technology 39.(2009): 568-571. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2009
EIA. “Where Greenhouse Gases Come From”. Energy Information Administration.
15 November 2009.14 July 2009. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=environment_wher...