Hydraulic energy is a type of renewable energy that allows us to obtain electricity as simple as it is to use the water stored in the reservoirs. It is an energy that has a lot of advantages, although also some inconveniences. In fact, it is a type of energy that is especially recommended when offering a continuous energy supply, although very concrete and limited. If you want to know a little more about Advantages and disadvantages of hydraulic energyas well as some technical aspects about how this type of energy works, continues to read ecology and we tell you.
What is hydraulic energy and how it works
Before starting talking about positive and negative effects of hydraulic energywe will talk briefly about what it is and how it works.
Hydraulic energy is a type of energy obtained from water stored in the reservoirs. These reservoirs are made up of a natural space (usually a valley) through which a river runs. In one of the strategic points of the Valley it is built A dam It has a double function.
On the one hand, the dam serves to store the water, turning the initial river into a large proportions reservoir and, on the other, the dam has a system that allows water to drop from the highest points of it. In this way, when the water falls, it is passed through a series of turbines that begin to rotate through the effect of water drop. Consequently, the turbine turn produces electricityso we get Hydroelectric energy which is sent directly to the places where the human being needs it.
To expand this information more, keep reading this article and do not miss this video of ecology see about what is hydraulic energy.
Advantages of hydraulic energy
As we have mentioned, the energy obtained from the movement of water against turbines has various advantages and, for them, is widely used today, but in reality it has been used for a long time. These are the Main advantages of hydraulic energy:
It is a renewable energy
One of the main advantages presented by hydraulic energy is that it constitutes a renewable energy. As energy is obtained from water drop, and water is obtained from the rain, it is an energy that will always be available, since its use does not entail a possible exhaustion of the resource thanks to the cycle of evaporation and rain of the water itself.
It is a clean energy
On the other hand, in addition to being a renewable energy, it is also a clean energy. The use of hydraulic energy does not entail the production of waste of any kind, which makes it a way of obtaining energy that does not entail the generation of physical or chemical waste, as well as greenhouse gases.
It has a very stable energy production
In addition, unlike other types of renewable energies, hydraulic energy has the advantage that its electric production is very stable. In the case of wind or solar energy, the days that there is no wind or the sky is cloudy its production stops. However, this does not happen with hydraulic energy, since the water it uses to produce electricity comes from rainwater, but from rainwater that has been previously stored in the respective reservoirs. Therefore, if one day it does not rain, electricity can continue to be produced because there is stored water.
Flexible production thanks to water flow
On the other hand, in addition to being a very stable energy in its production, it also has a flexible and adaptable production. To do this, it is enough to regulate the flow of water that is allowed to pass, so that the turbines are generated more or less energy as required at all times.
It is a completely safe energy
Finally, it cannot be overlooked that it is a completely safe energy. Not producing polluting waste that affects health and does not lead to possible accidents, as is the case with nuclear energy, we are facing one of the safest energies we can use.
Disadvantages of hydraulic energy
Finally, although it is a type of energy that has many advantages, it is also necessary to know what are The disadvantages and disadvantages of hydraulic energy:
It depends on the rains and droughts
It is, perhaps, the greatest of his disadvantages. While it is true that it is a renewable energy, it is also true that it depends directly on the rain and droughts cycles. In this way, it is an energy that offers very good results in times of abundant rains but that, in periods of droughts, does not serve to solve energy demand.
Limited places for installation
Likewise, it cannot be overlooked that, unlike what can happen with solar energy or wind energy, hydraulic energy depends on the conditions of the terrain to be usable. In this way, different hydraulic plants can be installed in the same river. But, despite this, it must be taken into account that it will be necessary to have a sufficient height so that the water drop can be useful, as well as an adequate orography for the creation of the corresponding hydraulic plants.
Environmental impact
On the other hand, one of the most important disadvantages that cannot be ignored of hydraulic energy is that, despite being a clean and renewable energy, it entails a considerable impact on the environment, especially in river ecosystems. To make use of hydraulic energy, it is necessary to build a hydraulic plant, which implies its respective dam. This means cutting the natural flow of the river, which has an important negative impact for the fauna that lives in it. Likewise, the construction of a reservoir entails the transformation of a terrestrial ecosystem into another aquatic and, although the transformation can have positive effect, it is undeniable that implies the destruction of the previous terrestrial ecosystem.
The initial investment is expensive
Finally, another of the disadvantages presented by hydraulic energy is that its initial cost is very high. The construction of hydraulic plants implies a considerable deployment of capital, as well as quite a while since the initial project is designed until it is carried out and launched. However, it is also true that, once the hydraulic plant has been completed, the energy obtained is cheap.
If you want to learn about more types of water energies, we recommend you read these other articles on what minihydraulic energy, blue or osmotic energy works: what is, advantages and disadvantages, what is the kinetic energy of water and endimotric energy: what is it, how it works, types, examples, advantages and disadvantages.
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