How is hydropower produced?

It is a perpetual cycle: Water evaporates and ascends, rains down on the mainland, forms lakes and rivers, these flow again into oceans. On its way to the sea the water powers mills and turbines, these convert the water's kinetic energy into rotational energy and then into electricity.

Around 1200 B.C., water wheels were used for agricultural irrigation. Later on, hydropower was used in mills and saw mills. From 1880 onwards, hydropower has also been used for electricity generation - on a large scale.

How do Hydropower Plants work?

Run-off river plants make use of a height difference and the effluent flow of water. The height difference is established by a weir. A water-driven turbine converts the difference in pressure into kinetic energy. Subsequently, a generator converts the kinetic energy into electricity.

The images illustrate how hydropower works. To enlarge, please click on the images.