Hydropower: Using Water Movement to Generate Electricity
Contributing Organization(s): Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Author(s)/Creator(s): Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Issue Areas: Energy and Environment; Government Reform
Ownership/Rights Info: Please consult the copyright holder before using or repurposing this information.
File info: 2 pages; 123.09 KB file size
Key facts:
- Hydroelectric power is produced by large turbines that convert the energy of falling or running water into electricity.
- Hydropower provides 20 percent of the world's electricity, and 7-9 percent of US electricity. Nearly 80 percent of renewable energy used in the United States comes from hydropower.
- The United States currently has a hydroelectric capacity of about 80,000 megawatts (MW). An additional 30,000 MW of potential hydroelectric generation capacity exists at 5,677 US sites, many of which already have dams, according to the US Department of Energy. Approximately 21,000 MW of that additional capacity could be realized through more efficient turbines without constructing new dams. Only 3 percent of the more than 75,000 dams in the United States are currently used to generate hydroelectricity.
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Intended Audience: College/University Professors; Legislators/Legislative Aids; Policy Professionals; Researchers
Type/Format: FactSheet
Language code: English
Type/Format: FactSheet
Language code: English
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