Hydropower and It Ecological Impacts

Hydroelectric Energy

Hum432 Professor Robinson/Nightwine

Laurena Wires

History of Hydropower

Since the commencement of time, water has been a vital necessity to mankind. As time progressed through the early ages of civilizations, the need to consider water as a basic need has stayed the same. Instead it has developed tremendously. This is due to the continuous growth in population throughout the planet. Since it was first invented, hydro- powered electricity has played a critical role in the improvements made by mankind. This will therefore help us in advancing for many generations to come.

Humans have settled in a location with an available source of water, such as a river, a lake and so on. People had to come up with a way of harnessing this valuable natural resource and using it to our benefit. Hence the construction of mills, and dams gained some momentum. For instance, “during the industrial revolution in Britain, in the late 18th century water power played a key role in developing the industrial base of the country”(Dell & Rand, 2004).

During the 18th century, the applications of water energy began to spread. According to Dell and Rand (2004), water power entered a new era in 1882 when the world’s first hydro-electric power plant began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. Producing 12.5 kilowatts (kW) of power, this paved the way into new ideas and projects throughout the United States and later around the world. A hydro-electric power plant works in a very organized way. Before the creation of a power plant, the land has to be surveyed in order to ensure that the soil quality and the position where the land is located including the environment are allowing for the project. In order for the hydro-electric power plant to work efficiently, Kirtley(2010) states that “plants take advantage of falling water under the influence of gravity”. The process in which a hydro-electric power plant functions involves a couple of steps. The...