5 Advantages of Hydropower
We will be discussing the benefits of hydropower over other energy sources in this article. These benefits include low operating costs and reliability as well as safety. For more information, please read the following. Hydropower is an excellent alternative to fossil fuel plants and is a more environmentally-friendly source of energy. Over 8,700 new hydroelectric plant are being planned for Europe. These new hydroelectric plants will be the future of the energy sector.
Reliability
It is necessary to conduct a reliability assessment in order to evaluate the reliability and availability of a hydropower station. This is done by conducting a fault tree analysis (FTA) on the hydropower plant. The reliability of each unit of the hydropower plant’s generator units is calculated in this analysis. The reliability of the entire station is also calculated. Reliability of components of a hydropower station depends on availability of water and electromechanical devices.
Generally, hydropower stations contribute the greatest portion of the generating systems in most counties. These power plants are essential for providing uninterrupted power on demand. Engineers must be ready to handle any uncertainties that may arise in the hydropower station’s generating capacity. These uncertainties include fluctuations in river flows or forced outages of electromechanical devices. It is vital to accurately estimate the overall reliability of hydropower plants to meet grid demands.
Low operating costs
Low operating costs of hydropower are one of the main benefits of the technology, which has been providing low-cost electricity for many countries for years. Hydropower provides power to the grid and also provides ancillary services, which contributes to system stability. Large hydropower plants can boast a LCOE as low at USD 0.020/kWh. The average cost of new capacity was USD 0.0.050/kWh in 2019.
Hydropower is a clean energy source that produces approximately 76% of the world’s renewable electricity. This technology is also an excellent choice for developing countries because of its low operating costs and predictable electricity price. As a result, hydropower is an attractive source of energy for the poorest regions of the world. Hydroelectric power plants are cost-effective and do not pollute land and air. Hydropower has historically been used as a part of small hydroelectric developments, which were crucial for the early expansion of the electric power industry.
Safety
There are many levels of hydropower safety concerns, depending on their location and nature. Some are inherent engineering hazards such as toxic dust and gases. Other hazards are level 2 hazards like electric shock, severe impact from equipment, or fire. The risk factor is considered and balanced against other safety concerns, such as construction safety. These factors are discussed below. Learn more about hydropower safety, and how to keep people safe around hydropower plants.
Some incidents are due to poor planning. Others are caused by equipment failure. Many developers don’t take geological factors into consideration when planning new hydropower plants. One such incident was in 1975 in China when the Banqiao Reservoir Dam collapsed. The flood resulted in 26,000 deaths and 145,000 people died in the subsequent famine. 11 million people were also displaced by the flood and left homeless.