Renewable Energy Movement (1970-Present):
A long history dates back, there was a concept of renewable energy began and now it is at its peak. Ancient civilization generates the concept of producing power from the sun, wind and water. It also concerns the security from environmental impacts.
This concept takes more value during the world war in 1970s. This world war causes serious drawbacks on the economic and development sectors of the world. As the prices of non-renewable energy resources go much higher than countries want to produce their electricity own without any obstacles. At that time, they were also concerned about global pollution and the environmental impacts. From there the concept of renewable energy started.
The modern renewable energy movement gained momentum from the mid 1980s or 1990s. At that time, the government and large private companies started investments in the development and the growth of renewables. As the world start working ridiculously hard on renewables. They can produce different policies and awareness programs. Guiding peoples that how fossil fuels affect the human climate and how to switch on renewables.
Today, the renewable energy movement is a global effort as every country wants to produce different policies to reduce the system that releases carbon and other toxins. The entire world is completely focused on renewable resources.
At that time hydro power became one of the most important and essential sources to produce electricity as it has compatibly very few percent of environmental impacts which we consider zero percent. So, it also becomes a renewable source of energy. After that it becomes more valuable as the largest countries switch to hydropower and invest more in it. The Brazil came forward with many advancements in hydro power and produce the largest dam of that time. It is known as Itaipu dam which was in Brazil and Paraguay. It was completed in 1984. It becomes the second largest hydropower plant which has a capacity of 14000 megawatts. It is found on Parana River.
The Karanjikar powerplant is the largest power plant which is found on Iceland. It is completed in 2009 and has a capacity of approximately 73megawatts. It is in the eastern Iceland on Karanjikar River which is tributary of Jokulsa a Dal River in the Vatnajökull River of Iceland. Now it is owned and run by Landsvirkjun, the national power company of Iceland.
The Thee Gorges dam which is found on Yangtze River in the Hubei province of China. It has become the world’s largest power plant with a generating capacity of 22500 megawatts. The construction of this dam begins in 1944 and was completed in 2012. It can significantly affect the climate. Due to the construction of it approximately 1.4 million people (about half the population of Nevada) have delocalized. It also causes the increase in water level due to which, many homes and villages submerged in water. It also causes alteration in rivers which affect the ecosystem, loss of biodiversity and change in water quality. But on the other hand, it has become the major source of producing clean energy for the country. It also reduces the flood risks.
The Belo Monte dam is also the largest dam in the world which begins in 2011 and was completed in 2019. It has the capacity of producing 11,233 megawatts which is found on Xingu River in the state of Para Brazil. But it faces large opposition and controversy. It became a controversial dam because it had significant impacts on the environment. It requires the delocalization of peoples in large amount due to it causes criticism from indigenous communities and human right groups. It also causes flood risk for the areas which can be safe. In addition, it also alters the flow of rivers which causes impact on local ecosystem including biodiversity.
Modern Hydro Electric Power Plant (Present):
Due to the movement of renewable energy the value of hydroelectric increases day by day. The whole industrialized world adopts the trend of hydroelectric. Some of the most important hydroelectric powerplants in modern days are under development and under construction. These power plants are expected to play a significant role in the field of hydroelectric power and become immensely helpful to promote green energy. These plants are designed in such a way that they do not harm our homeland. It also becomes the most efficient and reliable. One most prominent issue of hydro power plants is that it is very costly to install. So, the goals of these modern power plants are that they will also be cost effective.
The Agua Negra Tunnel is a proposed infrastructure project in South America which supplies the Trans-Andean connection between Chile and Argentina. It would approximately 50 kilometers (about 31.07 mi) long. One use of this tunnel is to produce electricity by using hydroelectric technologies. This hydropower plant is under planning and under construction which can use Agua Negra run-of-river water and expectedly produce 1200 megawatts of electricity. It will use 12.5 kilometers (about 7.77 mi) of tunnel.
Pen-stockless pumped hydroelectric Storage Power Plant is a plant in which the water is pumped from lower reservoir to higher reservoir by using penstock pipes. It has a capacity for storing excess electricity which will be used for days of high electric demand. It is also under development and expected to produce 1000 megawatts of electricity. It can be used with variable speed turbines and advanced control to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. It can also use less area than normal power plants.
The Lesotho highland water project in Lesotho a small city of South Africa is a project holding various reservoirs, dams and rivers. Many dams and rivers are under construction. It is also planned to expand that project more. The main power plant of that project is the Meuler hydroelectric power plant which is found on Senqu river in Mokhotlong district of Lesotho. Its capacity is 185 megawatts, and it was commissioned in 2003. Several other plants are under planning and under construction there. It will have a capacity of 2100 megawatts. It also uses advanced technologies like variable speed turbines and advanced control systems.
In this blog we discussed detailed about the modern eras of hydropower. In the next blog we will discuss about the advancement of hydropower. If any queries related this so feel free to contact with us. If you like it share with your friends and fellows knowledge grows by sharing. Thankyou.
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