Hydroelectricity: The Versatile Renewable

摘要

As one of the earliest and most elementary forms of power generation, hydropower remains by far the largest source of renewable energy in the world, including in North America. Driving a new wave of hydropower development is unprecedented demand for renewable energy and rising fossil fuel costs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other programs provide tax provisions to attract investment in incremental hydropower, hydro at non-powered dams, ocean, tidal and in-stream hydrokinetic technologies. After decades of little or no development, US hydro pumped storage is seeing renewed attention. Improvements to conventional hydro technology provide a variety of upgrades that help hydropower remain low cost while offering environmental benefits. Hydro has all but disappeared from the renewable energy options usually cited by renewable energy advocates. Many environmentalists have long opposed hydroelectric power and do not consider it green or renewable.