INTRODUCTION by Ariana Religioso

For Hydroelectric Power, a power source is used to turn a propeller-like piece called a
turbine, which then turns a metal shaft in an electric generator, which is the motor that
produces electricity. A hydroelectric plant uses falling water to turn the turbine.
Hydroelectric energy is operated by requiring a large artificial reservoir of water called the
dam. The dam is built with tunnels where water can pass through. The flowing of water
creates the energy to turn the turbines which turn the generators, converting energy into
electrical energy.

The theory is to build a dam on a large river that has a large drop in elevation. The dam
stores lots of water behind it in the reservoir. Near the bottom of the dam wall there is the
water intake. Gravity causes it to fall through the penstock inside the dam. At the end of
the penstock there is a turbine propeller, which is turned by the moving water. The shaft
from the turbine goes up into the generator, which produces the power. Power lines are
connected to the generator that carry electricity to your home and mine. The water
continues past the propeller through the tailrace into the river past the dam.

Brief History of Hydropower

Humans have used the power of moving water for more than 2,000 years. The first
references to water mills are found in Greek, Roman, and Chinese texts. They described
vertical waterwheels in rivers and streams. These traditional waterwheels turned as the
river flowed, turning millstones that ground grains. In the late 1700s, an American named
Oliver Evans designed a mill that combined gears, shafts and conveyors. After grain was
ground, it could be transported around the mill. The invention led to waterwheels being
the main power source for sawmills, textile mills and forges through the 19th century. In
1826, a French engineer, Jean Victor Poncolet, designed an even more efficient water
wheel. The wheel was enclosed so the water flowed through the wheel instead of around
it.

Relation of Hydrower to Hydrologic (Water) Cycle and Gravitational Energy

Air-current cycles drive the Earth's water supply through a cycle of its own, called the
hydrologic cycle. As the sun heats liquid water, the water evaporates into vapor in the air.
The sun heats the air, causing the air to rise in the atmosphere. The air is colder higher
up, so as the water vapor rises, it cools, condensing into droplets. When enough droplets
accumulate in one area, the droplets may become heavy enough to fall back to Earth as
precipitation.

The hydrologic cycle is important to hydropower plants because they depend on water
flow. If there is a lack of rain near the plant, water won't collect upstream. With no water
collecting up stream, less water flows through the hydropower plant and less electricity is
generated.
On the other hand, the water behind a hydroelectric dam stores gravitational potential
energy since it is at a higher level than the water on the other side of the dam. As the
water falls, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which turns turbines to
generate electricity.

Classification of Hydropower Plants

a) Impoundment
- The most common type of hydroelectric power plant is an impoundment facility. An
impoundment facility, 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.

b) Diversion
- A diversion, sometimes called run-of-river, facility channels a portion of a river through
a canal or penstock. It may not require the use of a dam.

c) Pumped Storage
- Another type of hydropower called pumped storage works like a battery, storing the
electricity generated by other power sources like solar, wind, and nuclear for later use. It
stores energy by pumping water uphill to a reservoir at higher elevation from a second
reservoir at a lower elevation. When the demand for electricity is low, a pumped storage
facility stores energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir.
During periods of high electrical demand, the water is released back to the lower reservoir
and turns a turbine, generating electricity.

Classification of Hydropower Plants by installed Capacity

a) Micro, Installed Capacity: <= 100 kW

b) Mini, Installed Capacity: 100-1.000 kW
c) Medium, Installed Capacity: 1.000-10.000 kW (1-10 MW)
d) Big, Installed Capacity: >10.000 kW (>10 MW)

Classification of Hydropower Plants by Head

a) Low head (H < 50 meters)

-Many smaller hydropower systems are considered “lowhead” because the height from
which the water falls is fairly low. Low-head hydropower systems are generally less than
50 meter high.
b) High Head (H > 50 meters)
-Tall dams are sometimes referred to as “high-head” hydropower systems. That is, the
height from which water falls is relatively high

The amount of electricity that can be generated by a Hydropower Plant depends on

two factors:

a) Flow rate
-The quantity of water flowing in a given time. When more water flows through a turbine,
more electricity can be produced. The flow rate depends on the size of the river and the
amount of water flowing in it. Power production is considered to be directly proportional
to river flow. That is, twice as much water flowing will produce twice as much electricity.

b) Head
-The height from which the water falls. The greater the flow and head, the more electricity
produced. The farther the water falls, the more power it has. The higher the dam, the
farther the water falls, producing more hydroelectric power. Power production is also
directly proportional to head. That is, water falling twice as far will produce twice as much
electricity.

Hydroelectric Power in the Philippines

The Philippines has a population of 15 large dams in operation. The country’s dams have
a total water storage volume of 8.67 x 109 m3. It has a total installed capacity connected
to its three grids of about 22,728 MW, comprising 3,627 MW of hydropower. Currently,
there are 23 Hydroelectric power plants that are being used in the Philippines: Agus Hep
Dams (6), Agusan Dam, Amlan Hydroelectric Plant, Angat Dam, Binga Dam, Buhi-Barit
Hydroelectric Plant, Bustos Dam, Caliraya Dam, Casecnan Dam, Cawayan Hydroelectric
Plant, Kalayaan Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Project, Lumot Dam, Magat Dam,
Pantabangan Dam, Pulangi Dam, Pulangi River, San Roque Dam, Talomo Dam.

Renewables (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass) combined to generate 23,183
GW which was equivalent to 24.6% of total generation. Hydropower generated 9605 GWh
of this. Given the country's vast hydropower potential, more than 10% of electricity
requirements are supplied by hydropower generation. To meet the expected increase in
demand for power over the planning period, a total of 2,950 MW of hydropower capacity
becomes available within both grid and off-grid areas.

All these are in line with President Duterte’s AmBisyon Natin 2040 policy, the Government
has set out its long-term energy objectives with the adoption of the Philippine Energy Plan
for the years 2017 to 2040. The policy aims to ensure security of supply and increase
access to energy through greater development of its indigenous resources. To reduce its
heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports, the government has set an ambitious target of
increasing installed renewable energy capacity to at least 20 GW by 2040.
However, due to Hydroelectric power’s capital-intensive nature, long gestation period and
accompanying issues of social acceptability of large hydropower projects remain to be
the sector's biggest challenges--hindered by high upfront costs and the need for
government intervention and subsidy. In terms of socio-environmental concerns, there is
considerable resistance to the further development of large hydropower projects due to
the potential for upstream flooding, destruction of agricultural areas and animal habitat
and disruption of communities in the affected areas. These factors have affected the
attractiveness of large hydropower projects. Given the many issues plaguing large
hydropower projects, the logical next step would be to focus on smaller, more
manageable run-of-river projects. However, such a shift will not come without
considerable challenges such as a decrease in new capacity given the smaller scale of
the projects, intermittent supply of power and considerable decrease in power generation
during the summer months—as the Philippines remains to be dependent on imported
electro-mechanical equipment for micro-hydro projects.

References

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (2019). Types of Hydropower Plants.
Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/types-hydropower-plants

Republic of the Philippines-Department of Energy (2018). Hydropower. Retrieved from

https://www.doe.gov.ph/hydropower

U.S. Geological Survey-Science for Changing World (2019). How Hydroelectric Power
Works. Retrieved from https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-
school/science/hydroelectric-power-how-it-works?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-
science_center_objects