Hydropower- Will Kent

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By Will Kent

 Hydro power

For thousands of years humans have been harvesting the power of flowing water, from the ancient mills to the gigantic hydro power plants we have today. The original type of hydro power was first seen around 500 AD in the form of a mill. Mills are one of the earliest and most efficient forms of hydro power. The basic premise of a mill is use flowing water to turn a wheel which turns gears, which can then be used for various tasks. Mills not only took the need of physical labor away from many jobs, but boosted the economy of many countries through the sudden supply of flour (grisk mills). Although we don’t see grisk mills used today the played a big part in our history and were the segway to the modern hydro plant.


The modern form of hydro power we see today is the form of big hydro plants like Hoover Dam or Niagara Falls. These types of hydro power are one of the best energy sources for a few reasons. One hydro power is on the cheaper end, costings on average $.85 per kilowatt Hour. Two, once a dam or plant is constructed will provide energy for 50-100 years, were as solar panels and wind turbine are expected to work for 20-25 years. Three, modern hydro plants convert up to 90% of all available energy, fossil fuel plants are only capable of about a 50% conversion rates. Even though nonrenewable fuels may be cheaper, you can’t assign a price to planet Earth and it future.

I think the future of hydro power is called micro plants.Micro plants are designed in a way that makes them small enough to fit in backyard streams or small river. Plus the plants plants don’t require the construction of a big dam, instead a small man made channel is dug parting of from the main stream, leading to the plant itself. Depending on the size of the plant it can power anywhere from a small neighborhood to a single house. I also believe that in the next few decades hydro power will become more common. Currently the country that uses hydro power the most is China with it making up 17% of energy production.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=40s&v=q8HmRLCgDAI

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