Hydropower energy

 Hydropower’s energy source comes from the energy of water moving from
higher to lower elevations, mainly from rivers and reservoirs. Reservoir
hydropower plants rely on the stored energy in the reservoir, while river power
plants harness energy from the flow of the river. Hydropower is currently the
largest renewable energy source in the electricity sector as it relies on stable
rainfall patterns.

It produces 6.3% of the nation’s total electricity and is the largest source of
renewable electricity. It also helps improve performance and lowers the costs of
hydropower by testing new materials. Successes in cost reductions, water-use
optimization, and facility upgrades.


 Even after a century of experience with this reliable renewable resource,

significant opportunities still exist to expand the nation’s hydropower
resources through non-powered dams, water conveyance systems, pumped
storage hydropower, and new site development.

 The Water Power Program (WPP) supports the hydropower industry through
the development of key components as well as identifying key areas where
hydropower generation can be enhanced. Pumped-storage (PS) hydropower
acts as utility-scale grid storage technology and is therefore an important piece
of DOE’s renewable energy portfolio.

 The WPP can play an essential role in showing the benefits of PS hydropower
as part of our clean energy future – acting as a renewable form of grid
stabilization and an enabler for renewables (such as wind or solar).

There are divided into 3 types:-

Archimedes screw system:- Run of river system

Micro hydropower
Areas of focus include water-use optimization, advanced materials
application, and water power grid services assessment.
For example, existing hydropower facilities in the United States show signs of
deterioration, and the data used to evaluate these facilities is outdated. WPP
is working with partners to update the information to understand the declines
in electricity generation, capacity factors, and facility availability.
Tides can create a head difference when combined with a barrage or a
lagoon. Even though tidal energy is not a major source of electricity today, it
has the potential to be a significant contributor in the future. A positive of tidal
energy is that it is more predictable than the wind or the sun. However, a main
disadvantage is that it is relatively hard to find a site with strong tidal flow
velocity and is expensive compared to other energy sources.
1. Modular Hydropower
Although hydropower electricity is the least expensive source of energy,
manufacturing a plant may be costly. Today’s technology allows for reduced
manufacturing costs and installation fees. One answer to this is modular
hydropower which allows for assembly off site and integration into new sites
and greater capacity factors for plants.
Modular hydropower systems allow for lower construction costs and reduced
environmental impacts. For example, a 24 foot long and 16 foot high prototype
dam, was built in Mass. as part of the HydroNext Initiative to lower costs,
improve performance, and promote environmental stewardship of hydropower
development.
2. Powering non-powered dams
Currently, hydropower ranks number 1 in being a renewable energy source.
However, thousands of dams still don’t produce power. Adding generation
equipment can add up to 12 GW of hydropower capacity, and using existing
dam infrastructure can lower construction costs and reduce permitting time –
meaning hydropower is added faster [7]. Because roughly 50% of hydropower
capacity is owned by the US government, federal dams represent a big
portion of developed non-powered dams [7].
3. Pumped Storage Hydropower
Pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) is a big battery. It allows water to go to a
higher elevation, which can then be released to turn turbines and meet energy
demands. As the largest form of energy storage, PSH helps stabilize
America’s power grid. It can respond quickly to power outages or grid
instability and may balance variable generation from wind and solar. The
country’s PSH plants help make the electric grid reliable and resilient, but
Energy-funded research shows we can add even larger amounts of new, low-
cost, and flexible PSH.
4. Tidal Energy
To produce electricity from tides that occur worldwide, there needs to be a
sixteen-foot gap between high and low tides. Currently, tidal power plant
conditions are good in the Pacific Northwest and Atlantic Northeast. The
Energy Department has discovered techniques to develop new ways to install,
maintain, and decommission tidal power plants. Recently, the Energy
Department funded Verdant Power, Inc. to optimize a way to deploy and
retrieve three tidal turbines together as a single system with an on-water
operation without support.
5. Wave Energy
Ocean waves store enormous amounts of energy. The challenge for scientists
- and a focus of the Energy Department – is developing technology that can
safely, reliably, and cost-effectively convert wave energy into usable electricity.
But once that’s done, wave energy can supply power to major cities and
distributed applications – like naval bases. To solve this problem, the Energy
Department-funded an 18-month public competition that ended with the prize
winner Aqua harmonics. They demonstrated a five-fold increase in the energy
capture potential of their MHK device.
Tidal Energy in India
The tidal cycle takes place once every twelve hours as a result of the moon’s
gravitational pull. The difference in water depth between low and high tides is
known as potential energy. To harness the full strength of the tidal energy
potential, the high tide must be at least five metres (16 feet) higher than the
low tide. India is one of just roughly 20 locations on the earth where the tides
are this high. On Gujarat’s west coast, the Gulf of Cambay and the Gulf of
Kutch have maximum and average tidal ranges of 11 metres and 8 metres,
respectively.

1 TIDAL ENERGY ADVANTAGES

 Tidal energy output is predictable and steady because of gravitational
forces.
 As technology develops, tidal energy will become more accessible and
effective.
 It guards against coastal flooding because of its stability under varied
design situations.
 Tidal lagoons have the capacity to absorb storm surges and waves once
every 500 years.
 Compared to other renewable energy sources, tidal power equipment
and facilities can last far longer and be more affordable

2 TIDAL ENERGY DISADVANTAGES

 Tidal power plant construction is currently more expensive because of
the large capital needs.
 The main environmental issues are fish entering the lagoon and being
struck by blades, noise from the turbines, altered sedimentation
processes, and altered habitat.
 On the other hand, each of these effects is specific and does not have
an impact on the entire estuary or bay.
 Repairing and maintaining equipment can be challenging.
Energy is in limited demand. Tidal energy storage capability must be created
because strong tides typically only occur for 10 hours every day.
Since the energy generated by the tides is frequently located far from where
the electricity would be utilised inland, it is challenging to offer tidal energy to
coastal settlements.
3 TIDAL STREAM GENERATOR
Tidal stream generators, like wind turbines, utilize the kinetic energy of moving
water to power turbines.

These turbines are placed on the seabed in areas with strong tidal currents.
As the tides flow in and out, the movement of water causes the turbines to
rotate, generating electricity. Tidal stream systems can be installed in areas
such as tidal channels, straits, and estuaries.

 Some tidal generators can be fitted into existing bridge constructions or

be fully buried.
 High velocities can be generated at specific sites by land constrictions
such as straits or inlets, which can be captured using turbines.
 Horizontal, vertical, open, and ducted turbines are all available.

4 TIDAL BARRAGE
Tidal range systems like tidal barrages and tidal lagoons take advantage of
the potential energy difference between high and low tides.

Tidal barrages generate potential energy by utilizing the difference in height

(or hydraulic head) between high and low tides. Tidal barrages are large dams
or barriers built across the entrance of an estuary or bay. Sluice gates and
turbines are used to control the flow of water through the barrage, allowing
water to flow in during high tide and releasing it during low tide to generate
electricity.

 When using tidal barrages to create power, the potential energy from a
tide is captured by constructing specialized dams.
 When the water level rises and the tide begins to come in, the
momentary spike in tidal power is diverted into a wide basin behind the
dam, which retains a large amount of potential energy.
 As the tide recedes, this energy is converted to mechanical energy as
the water is released via massive turbines that generate
5 TIDAL LAGOON

Tidal lagoons are similar to barrages but are constructed within a bay, creating
an enclosed area with a tidal range.

 A modern tidal energy design idea is to build circular retaining walls

outfitted with turbines that can catch the potential energy of tides.
 The reservoirs built are similar to tidal barrages, but the area is artificial
and there is no pre-existing ecology.

6 TIDAL ENERGY POTENTIAL IN INDIA

India’s coastline has several locations with strong tidal currents and significant
tidal ranges, particularly in the Gulf of Cambay (Khambhat) in Gujarat and the
Gulf of Kutch. These areas have been identified as having the highest tidal
energy potential in the country.

 The tidal cycle is caused by the moon’s gravitational influence and

occurs every 12 hours.
 The difference in water height between low and high tide is referred to as
“potential energy.”
 To capture enough power from the tidal energy potential, the high tide
must be at least five meters (16 feet) higher than the low tide.