Hydroelectricity

Lore & Background

The use of hydropower for mechanical energy dates back to 202 BC in ancient China's Han dynasty. In the late 18th century, hydraulic power fueled the start of the Industrial Revolution. By the 1840s, hydraulic power networks were developed to transmit hydro power to end users. The old Schoelkopf Power Station No. On September 5, 1882, generators at St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River sent power to light arc lamps in Minneapolis. The first Edison hydroelectric station, the Vulcan Street Plant, began operating September 30, 1882, in Appleton, Wisconsin, with an output of about 12.5 kilowatts. In the 20th century, hydroelectric stations grew larger.

Reader's Guide

Hydroelectricity is significant as the largest renewable energy source, supplying 15% of the world's electricity in 2023 and surpassing all other renewables combined. It provides low-carbon electricity on demand, with dams and reservoirs allowing output to be adjusted in seconds or minutes to meet varying demand. Once built, a hydroelectric complex produces no direct waste and emits considerably less greenhouse gas than fossil fuel plants, though lowland rainforest inundation can release substantial greenhouse gases. Environmental impacts include loss of arable land, population displacement, disruption of river ecology, and altered siltation and erosion patterns. Dams can reduce flood risk, but dam failure can be catastrophic. In 2022, China added 24 GW, nearly three-quarters of global capacity additions, while Europe added 2 GW. Countries like Norway, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Paraguay, and Brazil rely on hydroelectricity for over 85% of their electricity.

Did You Know?

• Hydropower supplied 15% of the world's electricity in 2023, more than all other renewable sources combined and also more than nuclear power.
• China added 24 GW of hydropower capacity in 2022, accounting for nearly three-quarters of global additions.