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Hydroelectric Power Facts & Worksheets

Hydroelectric energy, also known as hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, uses the force of moving water to produce electricity.

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One of the oldest and most widespread forms of renewable energy is hydropower or hydroelectric power. It uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity.

See the fact file below for more information on Hydroelectric Power, or you can download our 28-page Hydroelectric Power worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS HYDROELECTRIC POWER?

  • Hydroelectric energy, also known as hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, uses the force of moving water to produce electricity, such as water running down a waterfall.
  • It is among the oldest and most significant sources of renewable energy. Hydroelectric power was the most popular renewable energy source in the early 21st century, producing more than 18% of the world’s electricity in 2019.
  • Humans have utilized hydroelectric power for millennia to grind wheat into flour; people in Greece used flowing water more than two thousand years ago.

HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY

  • Although there are many different kinds of hydropower plants, they are always propelled by the kinetic energy of water moving downstream. In order to turn this kinetic energy into electricity, which may subsequently be used to power buildings, businesses, and other establishments, hydropower uses turbines and generators.
  • Impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage are the three categories of hydroelectric facilities. Some hydropower plants rely on dams, while others do not.
  • Impoundment – An impoundment facility is the type of hydroelectric power plant that is most prevalent. A dam is used in an impoundment facility, which is usually a big hydroelectric system, to hold river water in a reservoir. 
  • Released water from the reservoir spins a turbine as it passes through, starting a generator that generates power. The water may be released to address shifting electrical needs as well as other requirements, including those for flood control, leisure, fish passage, and other environmental and water quality requirements.
  • Diversion – A diversion, often known as a “run-of-river” facility, directs a segment of a river through a canal and/or a penstock to harness the energy-producing potential of the river’s natural elevation decline. 
  • Water flow is controlled by gates, valves, and turbines in a penstock, a closed pipe that directs water to turbines. It’s possible that a diversion facility would not require a dam.
  • Pump storage – Pumped storage hydropower, often known as PSH, is another type of hydropower that functions like a large battery. The electricity produced by alternative power sources, such as solar, wind, and nuclear, can be stored at a PSH facility for later use.
  • Pumping water from one reservoir at a lower elevation to another at a higher elevation is how these systems store energy. 
  • A PSH facility stores energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir when the need for electricity is low. When there is a significant demand for energy, the water is discharged back into the lower reservoir where it turns a turbine and produces electricity.

HISTORY OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER

  • For thousands of years, people have used water to accomplish chores. About 2,000 years ago, the Greeks employed water wheels to mill wheat into flour, and in the third century BCE, the Egyptians utilized Archimedes’ water screws for irrigation.
  • Some of the earliest ideas for harnessing water power were developed in China between 202 BCE and 9 CE during the Han Dynasty. 
  • Trip hammers were used to pound and hull grain, split ore, and make the first paper. They were driven by vertical-set water wheels. 
  • Long-term economic growth has strongly correlated with the availability of water power. Hydropower was the energy source Richard Arkwright used to build Cromford Mill in England’s Derwent Valley in 1771 to spin cotton and create one of the first factory systems in history.
  • In the first part of the nineteenth century, hydropower technology underwent some of its most significant advancements. 
  • The first iteration of the Fourneyron reaction turbine was created by French engineer Benoit Fourneyron in 1827 and was capable of producing about 6 horsepower.
  • A few decades after British-American engineer James Francis created the first contemporary water turbine, hydropower started to be used as a source of electricity in the late 19th century. The first hydroelectric power plant in the world began running alongside the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1882.

BENEFITS OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER

  • Hydroelectric power is renewable in that it is always available as long as the water cycle functions. It also plays a significant role in the battle against climate change by helping avoid the use of fossil fuels and reducing CO2 emissions as well as the creation of greenhouse gasses and particulate matter, hence reducing pollution and the greenhouse impact.
  • In the medium to long term, water power is unquestionably the least expensive source overall, notwithstanding the large initial investment and technical difficulties involved in building a plant. 
  • In comparison to the initial investment, the maintenance costs for the dams, stations, and turbines are relatively low once they have been constructed.
  • Hydroelectric energy is consistent, unlike other sources, such as solar, wind, or coal. To suit supply and demand, the flow of water used to generate electricity can be simply changed. As a result, energy waste is decreased because electricity may be made available when it is needed.

RISKS OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER

  • The potential negative effects of hydroelectric electricity on the environment may be its biggest drawback. With their development, dams have the potential to harm or otherwise have an impact on the ecosystem both upstream and downstream.
  • New power lines and roads must be built, causing environmental disruption, in order to construct a dam. Moreover, reservoirs created by dams can flood wide areas and uproot natural habitats. 
  • Dams cause flooding by creating areas of still or stagnant water, which kills plants and causes them to decompose, emitting greenhouse gasses. This is particularly true in humid and tropical settings.
  • Reservoirs force people as well as animals out of their natural environments. This drawback of hydroelectric power can be detrimental to local populations. Individuals who have spent their entire life in one place may be compelled to leave, and while they are usually rewarded for doing so, it cannot make up for what they have lost.
  • Drought conditions can also be caused by hydro energy production if it doesn’t allow enough water to pass through, in addition to being influenced by drought.

Hydroelectric Power Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Hydroelectric Power across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hydroelectric Power. Hydroelectric energy, also known as hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, uses the force of moving water to produce electricity, such as water running down a waterfall.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Hydroelectric Power Facts
  2. Appreciating Water
  3. How it Works
  4. Power through Diversion
  5. Pumped Storage
  6. When Facilities Fail
  7. Big Five Hydropowers
  8. Hydropower Pros and Cons
  9. Power Producers
  10. Local Power Generator
  11. Hydropower Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hydroelectric power?

Hydroelectric power is a form of renewable energy that is generated by harnessing the gravitational force of falling or flowing water to rotate a turbine, which generates electricity.

How does hydroelectric power work?

Hydroelectric power works by using the energy of falling or flowing water to turn a turbine connected to a generator. When water falls from a height or flows with force, it rotates the turbine, which in turn generates electricity.

What are the advantages of hydroelectric power?

Some advantages of hydroelectric power include: it is a renewable and clean source of energy, does not produce harmful greenhouse gases, provides reliable and consistent power, helps control floods and manage water resources, and has a long lifespan with low operating costs.

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Some disadvantages of hydroelectric power include: it requires specific geographical conditions, such as the availability of flowing water, which limits its potential for widespread use, may have negative environmental impacts, such as disrupting river ecosystems and displacing local communities, and can be expensive to build and maintain.

What are some examples of hydroelectric power projects?

Some examples of hydroelectric power projects include the Three Gorges Dam in China, the Hoover Dam in the United States, the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and Paraguay, the Sardar Sarovar Dam in India, and the Grand Coulee Dam in the United States. These are large-scale hydroelectric power projects that generate significant amounts of electricity.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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