Hydro-electric stations are built where there is running water.
The energy of running water is used to make electrical energy.
Most hydro-electric stations are located near dams where water is stored.
But hydro-electric stations can also be built on rivers and near waterfalls.
Hydro comes from a Greek word meaning water.
Hydropower is a renewable source of energy which uses the force, or energy, of moving water to generate power.
Holyoke Dam USA. Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash
A renewable source of energy that has been used since ancient times.
The Romans and the Chinese used watermills and the power of water to operate many different mechanical devices such as cranes, lifts, mining devices, sawmills, textile mills, and corn mills.
How hydro-electricity works
To make hydro-electric power, water from rain or melting snow is collected and stored in a lake or a dam. A large pipe carries the water from the dam or lake to the turbine.
The energy of rushing water is changed into electric energy inside the hydro power plant Getty Images
The flow of the water from the dam can be controlled by opening and closing gates or pipes to the dam. The dam wall also creates a high water level and this increases the pressure in the pipes which takes the water to the turbine. Water flows from the dam down the penstock, which is a channel for the water. Gravity pulls the water down and it flows quickly.
The pressure of the flowing water pushes against the blades of the turbines and make them spin.
The rotating turbines are connected to a generator which makes the electrical energy or electricity. The electricity then travels through transformers and transmission lines to homes and factories.
Hydro-electricity is a renewable source of energy.
Hydro produces 58 per cent of the renewable electricity produced in Australia. All the water used to make hydro-electricity is returned to the river after use.
Hydro-electricity is clean power. It produces no waste, and doesn't produce any greenhouse gases.
It’s a good idea to get information from more than one source!
Read more about hydro electric power
https://www.ducksters.com/science/environment/hydropower.php
Read facts, and watch a video
https://easyscienceforkids.com/best-hydropower-facts-video-for-kids/
The most famous hydro-electric power station in Australia is the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. Read about it
http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-energy/hydro/
http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-energy/hydro/the-history/