As the most reliable renewable energy, hydropower energy is widely used
throughout the world. Hydroelectric power captures the energy released from falling water. In the most simplistic terms, waterfalls due to gravity, this causes kinetic energy to be converted into mechanical energy which in turn can be converted into a useable form of electrical energy by the water turbine and generator. Hydroelectric power plants are categorized according to size. They fit into one of four different size ranges: Micro, Mini, Small, and Large. A Micro sized plant is one that generates less than 100 kW of electricity and would typically be used to power 1-2 houses. A Mini facility can serve an isolated community or a small factory by generating 100kW-1MW of electricity. A Small plant generates 1MW-30MW and can serve an area while supplying electricity to the regional grid. Lastly, a large facility generates more than 30MW of power. There have two major types of hydroelectric, impounded type and diversion type. An impoundment hydroelectric, typically a large hydropower system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. The water may be released either to meet changing electricity needs or to maintain a constant reservoir level. Its been shown in picture below the situation of impoundment hydroelectric.
Another common type of hydroelectric is diversion type. This term
sometimes called run of river. This type is usually for a small scale of hydroelectric. This facility channels a portion of a river through a canal or penstock. It may not require the use of a dam. The river still can flow as usually, its only take a small portion of river that come in from intake to run the turbine and produce the electricity. The picture below showed the schematic diagram of diversion hydroelectric.
Hydropower is the only renewable energy technology that is commercially
viable on a large scale. It has many advantages compared to disadvantage. Hydropower is a fuelled by water, so it's a clean fuel source. Hydropower doesn't pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. Hydropower is a domestic source of energy. Hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, thus it's a renewable power source. Hydropower is generally available as needed which the engineers can control the flow of water through the turbines to produce electricity on demand. Hydropower plants provide benefits in addition to clean electricity. Impoundment hydropower creates reservoirs that offer a variety of recreational opportunities, notably fishing, swimming, and boating. Most hydropower installations are required to provide some public access to the reservoir to allow the public to take advantage of these opportunities. Other benefits may include water supply and flood control. Due to advantages, hydroelectric also have their disadvantage. The disadvantage of hydroelectric is taken serious in order to construct the large scale of hydroelectric. One of the disadvantages is fish populations can be impacted if fish cannot migrate upstream past impoundment dams to spawning grounds or if they cannot migrate downstream to the ocean. Upstream fish passage can be aided using fish ladders or elevators, or by trapping and hauling the fish upstream by truck. Downstream fish passage is aided by diverting fish from turbine intakes using screens or racks or even underwater lights and sounds, and by maintaining a minimum spill flow past the turbine. Besides, hydropower can impact water quality and flow. Hydropower plants can cause low dissolved oxygen levels in the water, a problem that is harmful to riverbank habitats and is addressed using various aeration techniques, which oxygenate the water. Maintaining minimum flows of water downstream of a hydropower installation is also critical for the survival of riparian habitats.
In Malaysia, hydropower is used for water supply, flood control, irrigation
and recreation purposes. Malaysia has a gross theoretical hydropower potential of 250 GW, and a technically feasible potential of 123 TWh. The 2,400 MW Bakun Hydroelectric Project was first approved in 1994. This hydropower project has dam height 200 m. This hydroelectric is under construction on the Balui River will include the longest and highest capacity submarine cables in the world to transmit power generated from Bakun in Sarawak (Borneo) to Peninsula Malaysia, a distance of 670 kilometres. Three diversion tunnels were completed in 2001. Bakun will flood 69,000 hectares of farmland, and will result in a more balanced generation mix. The project will cost an estimated $ 2.4 billion (HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT WITH A FOCUS ON ASIA AND WESTERN EUROPE). That is about one of the large scale of hydroelectric in Malaysia. For small scale hydroelectric in Malaysia, its already started since late 1970s. These are based on run of river systems ranging from 500 kW to 1000 kW capacity. As reported by UKM, there are thirty-nine units with a total capacity of 16 MW in Peninsular Malaysia, seven units with a total capacity of 2.35 MW in Sabah and five units with a total capacity of 5 MW in Sarawak. Mini-hydro technology is proven and the in country expertise to build, operate and maintain plants is sufficient. [http://www.eib.org.my]