Hydroelectric Energy
Electricity generated from water flowing through turbines in dams or run-of-river systems, providing 16% of global electricity.
Formula
P = ρgQh (hydraulic power; ρ = water density, g = gravity, Q = flow rate, h = head height)
Real World
China's Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, with a capacity of 22.5 GW, is the world's largest power station by installed capacity, yet displaced 1.3 million people and flooded 1,000 towns, illustrating the social-environmental trade-offs of large hydro projects.
Exam Focus
Distinguish between installed capacity (GW) and actual output (GWh) — capacity factor explains why hydro rarely operates at full rated power.
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