Hydro electricity is electricity that has been generated from water -- specifically by capturing and converting some of the energy from running water.
Hydro electricity is categorised as a form of renewable energy. As long as the rain keeps falling and the rivers keep flowing it will be possible to generate power this way.
The number one way to generate hydro electricity is to build a dam. You then have an enormous amount of water that you can direct through turbines to generate electricity. In effect you are capturing and converting the potential energy of the water into electricity. The amount of electricity you can generate will depend on how much water flows and how fast it's going. With a dam that means the height between the water and the turbine.
Scottish Hydro, part of Scottish & Southern Energy, is a leading exponent of hydro electricity in the UK but it is possible to generate hydroelectricity on a much smaller scale. The Energy Saving Trust suggests that if you have a reliable, fast flowing stream near your home you could generate it yourself and even sell excess electricity back to the National Grid. Great news if you have your own country estate but maybe not so practical for the rest of us.
« Back to the green glossary