Hydropower

Hydropower is obtained by converting kinetic energy of moving water into electricity produced by alternators.

It was one of the first energy sources to be used to generate electricity.

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There are two main types of hydroelectric plants:

• run-of-river hydroelectric plants, which harness the power of water flowing down rivers and streams. These plants are placed near the watercourse: as the water flows, it pushes the blades and sets a turbine in motion;

• reservoir hydroelectric plants, in which the water does not come from a river or stream, but from a reservoir (e.g., natural lake, artificial lake produced through a dam). In these plants, water from the reservoir is passed through conduits that carry the water to the turbine blades, which, put into rotation, produces electricity.