Hydroelectric power makes use of the potential energy in rivers. This renewable energy source is the most popular, and it has nine of ten of the largest power plants worldwide. Three Gorges is China's largest, with a 22.5 GWt capacity. Itaipu in Brazil has 14 GWe, while Xiluodu in China has thirteen. Hydroelectric plants provide grid stability by their large mechanical inertia.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectric power plants rely on water to produce electricity. Water is the biggest renewable energy source. The water is pushed against turbine blades. This transforms the potential energy into kinetic energy which turns an electric generator. The dam crosses a large river to get the water. The water is stored in large storage tanks before it is released onto the turbine propellers. The water is then released back into the river to replenish the reservoir.
Dams that imprison a river are often the location of hydroelectric power plants. When a flood occurs, a part of the dam serves as a spillway, turning turbines and generating electricity. Pumps that collect water from rivers and other renewable sources are used to turn synchronous generators to generate electricity. Many communities have also created their own wind turbines to harness power from moving water.
Photovoltaic (PV) technology
PV is a solar cell that generates electricity using sunlight. PV offers many advantages over other energy sources such as lower cost, low environmental impact and long-term financial stability. But PV is only able to produce power during daylight hours. Also, the amount of electricity generated will vary depending on weather and season. Here are some ways PV can increase energy security.
Photoelectric effect: PV cells convert sunlight from sunlight into electricity. On the roofs or walls of buildings, you will find typical photovoltaic panels. Utility companies are now building large photovoltaic installations. This requires five to thirteen acres. Solar installations in the USA amounted to 16.7 GW. In other countries, there were another 2.2 GW.
Wind energy
The wind is the largest renewable energy source in the world. It produces more than five-times the amount of electricity currently used by humans. Wind turbines, with their rotorblades spinning in a clockwise order, collect the wind energy. A gearbox inside the turbine's main nacelle converts wind energy to electrical energy. The electricity travels through a transformer where it is adjusted to the appropriate voltage.
Wind energy is relatively easy and simple to generate. It does away with the need for combustion and emits no greenhouse gases. It is also inexpensive per kilowatt-hour produced, and it requires little maintenance. Wind farms are usually built in areas that are less populated and where the winds are stronger. In the United States, wind farms are often built in remote areas, and a rigorous analysis process is required to determine their suitability and feasibility.