Advantages
There are many advantages to using hydroelectric power over other power sources. Listed below are 3 main advantages:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Firstly, there are virtually no greenhouse gases produced. Because of the nature of using gravity to move water into a turbine, there is no burning of fossil fuels or other materials to produce the electricity.
This means that a hydroelectric dam is immune to all fossil fuel costs. Although there are some emissions produced during construction, this is a near negligible amount of pollution compared to a conventional fossil fuel burning power plant (Rabl A., Spadaro J. 2005).
Second, there is no harmful extraction of resources involved in the production of electricity. No minerals or rocks or fossil fuels are needed. Since many of these dams are in remote locations, the area is kept mostly pristine.
Cost of Production
Compared to many other types of electricity production, hydroelectricity is very cheap to produce. On a plant larger than 10 megawatts, power only costs 3-5 cents per kilowatt-hour (Institute, Worldwatch 2012). This means that hydro electric dams usually pay for themselves in a very short amount of time, only a couple years.
The flexibility of hydroelectricity is a very appealing to governments as well. Because of the nature of electricity production, of voluntarily letting water through a penstock, it is very easy to control electricity production. So in times of need, you can ramp up production very easily. In times of low power usage, it is easy to restrict the flow of water and thus, the production of electricity. This makes them very economical since they are hardly ever "wasting" electricity.
Reliability
Lastly, it is a very reliable source of energy, unlike wind and solar. As long as the reservoir remains reasonably full, a constant production of electricity is guaranteed. Reliability can be affected in areas of high sedimentation, drought or high irrigation use.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Firstly, there are virtually no greenhouse gases produced. Because of the nature of using gravity to move water into a turbine, there is no burning of fossil fuels or other materials to produce the electricity.
This means that a hydroelectric dam is immune to all fossil fuel costs. Although there are some emissions produced during construction, this is a near negligible amount of pollution compared to a conventional fossil fuel burning power plant (Rabl A., Spadaro J. 2005).
Second, there is no harmful extraction of resources involved in the production of electricity. No minerals or rocks or fossil fuels are needed. Since many of these dams are in remote locations, the area is kept mostly pristine.
Cost of Production
Compared to many other types of electricity production, hydroelectricity is very cheap to produce. On a plant larger than 10 megawatts, power only costs 3-5 cents per kilowatt-hour (Institute, Worldwatch 2012). This means that hydro electric dams usually pay for themselves in a very short amount of time, only a couple years.
The flexibility of hydroelectricity is a very appealing to governments as well. Because of the nature of electricity production, of voluntarily letting water through a penstock, it is very easy to control electricity production. So in times of need, you can ramp up production very easily. In times of low power usage, it is easy to restrict the flow of water and thus, the production of electricity. This makes them very economical since they are hardly ever "wasting" electricity.
Reliability
Lastly, it is a very reliable source of energy, unlike wind and solar. As long as the reservoir remains reasonably full, a constant production of electricity is guaranteed. Reliability can be affected in areas of high sedimentation, drought or high irrigation use.