• Energy HQ
• Increase Energy In Order To Live A Great Life
• Light Energy, A Viable Solution For The Future
• Chi Energy, The Energy Of Life
• Nuclear energy
• Be Healthier With Natural Energy Boosters
• Basic Terminology On Potential Energy
• Green Energy Jobs: Trying To Make A Safer World
• The Use Of Thermal Energy In Your Life
• Energy Healing Can Change Your Life
• The Two Main Types Of Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Some Tips On Energy Conservation
• Chemical Energy: The Greatest Source Of Energy Used By Man
• Discover The Energy Boosters That Fit You
• Solar Energy
• Geothermal Energy
• All About Tidal Energy
• Energy Supplements, A Solution To Our Health Problems
• Free Energy: A Dream Or The Reality?
• Alternative Energy Sources - The Key To The Future
• Wind Energy
• Mechanical Energy, The Energy Of Work
• Biomass Energy - One Of The Most Common Forms Of Energy
• The Secrets Of Heat Energy
• The Basics Of Hydroelectric Energy
• Kinetic Energy, The Energy Of Motion
• Electrical Energy. What Would Our Lives Look Like Without It?
• What Is The Sound Energy?
• Different Forms Of Energy

The Basics Of Hydroelectric Energy

One of the most important forms of energy is the hydroelectric energy. Its importance is given by the low production costs and the fact that it is renewable. Among the worlds renewable resources of energy only wood makes a larger contribution. The energy is obtained with the same technology used by the water wheel. The force of the water makes the wheel to turn, and so, electricity is obtained.

This technology was even used by the Romans. Is was popular even in the 4th century B.C. by the year 1800, all across Europe thousands of such mills were built to obtain electricity. Since then, hydroelectric power is more and more popular. Studies showed that, by the year 1980, a quarter of the electricity used by the society was from hydroelectric power. Nowadays, thousands and thousands of dams are built all over the world, to obtain electricity. On the big rivers, the dam stores a large volume of water. With the help of some tubes, the water is lead to hydraulic turbines. When the water is released, a vacuum is created, and so, with some generators connected al the turbines, high amounts of electricity are obtained.
The hydroelectric power is distributed on all the continents. China is the country that obtains 10% of the total hydroelectric energy on Earth. The large rivers and the mountainous regions allow them to do that. But Europe is the leader. Even though its resources are lower than Asia's resources, Europe produces about 60% of the potential. At the other pole we find Africa. This continent has developed only 5%, and most of it obtained from the Nile, their largest river. In some areas of the world, hydroelectric power is the most important source of energy. For example, in South Africa about 75% of the electricity is obtained, by exploiting the rivers.

Overall, hydroelectric power has been a well suited and cost effective source of electricity for some time now. However, the "good spots" for placing new dams and other technology have already been taken. Finding new areas to use are becoming increasingly scarce and when a site is found, the amount of time and energy it takes to prepare the site for building also becomes a problem. If viable sites for building can continue to be found and used, then hydroelectric energy will remain a good source of electricity. However, if new building sites cannot be found, other means are going to have to be used for electricity production.