Archive for November, 2011

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Largest Hydroelectric Power Plants of the World

November 22nd, 2011

Hydroelectric power plants which use potential energy of water for generation of electricity are one of the most important sources of power production on large scale basis. The construction required huge infrastructure. Some large-scale structures of hydroelectric power plants have been developed all over the world, being considered as one of the wonders of the world.

 

Itaipu hydroelectric power plant

Itaipu hydroelectric power plant is constructed on the Parana River in the areas adjoining the borders of Brazil and Paraguay. The construction began in 1975 and finished in 1991. There are 20 power generation units with total capacity of 14000 MW or 14GW. In 1995, the plant was responsible for 25% of total power supply in Brazil, and almost 80% in Paraguay.

 

The dam is unbelievably 196 meters high.

 

 

Boguchanskaya hydroelectric power plant

The construction of Boguchanskaya hydroelectric power plant on Angara River began in 1980. However, all preparatory work began in 1974. The plant has an installed capacity of 3,000 megawatts, generating 17.6 billion kilowatt hours annually.

 

The plant has an installed capacity of 3,000 megawatts, generating 17.6 billion kilowatt hours annually

 

Churchill Falls power plant

Churchill Falls power plant is the second largest hydroelectric plant in North America with an installed capacity of 5,428 MW. The powerhouse is 972 ft long and 154 ft high from the bottom to the top.

 

Churchill Falls power plant is the second largest hydroelectric plant in North America.

 

Guri hydroelectric power plant

Guri hydroelectric power plant is constructed on the Caroni River in Venezuela. The plant has 20 generation units with a total capacity of 10000 MW.

 

The dam is 1300 meters long and 162 m high.

 

 

Tucurui hydroelectric power plant

Tucurui hydroelectric power plant is located on the Tocantins River. It has 23 generators with total generating capacity of 8370 MW. The plant is the largest 100% Brazilian plant.

 

The Tucuruí Hydroelectric Plant is one of the biggest engineering works in the world.

 

Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station

Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station is located on the Yenisei River, near Sayanogorsk in Khakassia, Russia. It is the sixth largest hydroelectric plant in the world. Its total installed capacity and average annual production are 6,400 MW and 23.5 TWh respectively.

 

The station’s constructions include the dam, a power plant building, and an additional spillway.

 

Bratsk hydroelectric power plant

Bratsk hydroelectric power plant, which is developed on Angara River, produces 22.6TWh of power annually. Its total power generation capacity is 4500MW. The plant has 18 power generation units, each of which is equipped with Francis turbine and produces 250MW. There is a long penstock of 5140 meters from reservoir of the dam to power generation units.

 

There are costal concrete wall which are 506 meters long

 

 

Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power plant

Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power plant with power generation capacity of 6000MW is constructed on Yenisey River. The dam is 119 meters high. The work on this plant was completed in 1964; however, it has brought many changes in the climate of the surrounding areas.

 

Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam

 

Related links:

What Is Hydroelectric Energy?

Facts About Hydroelectric Energy

Electric Generation Methods and Solar Power

Smart Green Grid Software Meets the Not-So-Smart Modern Electric Grid

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Posted in Hydroelectricity

Facts About Wind Energy

November 17th, 2011

Wind energy is a popular topic these days. The costs of traditional energy forms are increasing, which motivates people to look for cheaper and more reliable energy forms. It is necessary to be aware of wind energy as well as its usefulness when we discuss cheap energy alternatives.

 

While wind energy may appear to have many advantages over more traditional forms of energy, it too has a set of challenges that must overcome before it can be used in large-scale applications. If you’re considering using this form of energy in your home or if you’re just looking to learn more about it, this short article on will help you understand the basics.


Advantages:

 

1. It is virtually unlimited.  As the Earth rotates it is heated and cooled by the sun, wind occurs as a natural part of this process.

 

2.

 It is readily available in many regions.  While not all countries have the geography to make use of it efficiently, countries like the United States are investing millions to take advantage of this naturally occurring resource. 

 

3.  It is relatively inexpensive to things like oil and coal. With the exception of solar energy, all other forms of energy must be converted from their natural state to extract the energy within them. This process of conversion and extraction can be very expensive and manifests itself in kilowatt-per-hour costs. In competitive terms, wind has a lower cost.


Disadvantages:

 

1.

 It is intermittent. Although it’s true that it is a natural byproduct of the Earth’s rotation, there are still some periods in which went simply does not blow. Except for extreme cases, in regions were wind blows constantly, the fact that wind energy is intermittent means that a backup source of energy must be available at all times.

 

2. It is expensive to transfer. The most when the regions are generally very remote and sparsely populated. Due to their remote nature, the cost of transporting the harnessed energy is very high.

 

3.  It has a high installation cost. The machinery required to capture wind power on a large scale, otherwise known as wind turbines, are very expensive. These massive structures often have blades which measure over 100 feet in length and consequently require enormous amounts of manpower to install. 

 

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Posted in Wind Energy

Geothermal Electricity

November 13th, 2011

Most people are not aware of geothermal energy, how it works, and the role it will play in our energy future. Although it is one of the lesser known renewable energy sources it is still a viable alternative. In both the Philippines and Iceland nearly a quarter of all energy produced is geothermal electricity. These countries have shown that such systems are completely feasible and in fact quite efficient.

Electricity is generated by extracting water from underground which has been heated by magma. This water is then run next to pipes containing a fluid with a lower boiling point than the water. The water causes the fluid to boil turning it into a vapor which then powers turbines. These turbines are the source of geothermal electricity which is then used to power homes and businesses.

Here are a few geothermal energy facts:

Advantages of Geothermal Power

Only fuel is heated underground water thus its emission free
Constant energy ensures large capacities can be met
Heat extraction is negligible thus unending/sustainable energy source
Land usage is extremely small
Scalable depending on demand for geothermal electricity

Disadvantages of Geothermal Power

Vapor fluid is corrosive and hard to manage
Fluid is kept at low temperature limiting heat engine production
Small amount of carbon dioxide / sulfur emission
Location could cool down after years of use depending of water reserve

Even though it isn’t as well known as a lot of the other renewable energy sources the future is bright for this innovative and efficient method of harnessing the power of nature to do work.

Some technological advances in turbines could make these power plants even more efficient in the future.

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Posted in Geothermal