Energia Hdroelectric: in search of less ecological impact

We analyze the main ecological impacts derivations of hydroelectric dams and solutions that promise to overcome these problems in the future.

One of the oldest forms of energy is hydroelectric. Its use has been documented for centuries and is one of the most common forms of renewable energy. So common is its implementation in this regard, for example in EE.UU., the renewable energy sector gets hydropower 49% of its total production.

To qualify for hydroelectric power, require large amounts of water that fall, so the pressure exerted by water triggers the operation of turbines which - in turn - produce electricity..

Hydroelectric energy It is especially suitable for those areas that have very large amounts of water availability. Today, it constitutes 21 per cent of renewable energy sources.

Conventional hydropower generation methods require the use of dams which act as reservoirs of water to move the turbines and generators.

While the force of the water gives us an alternative more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels, the dams are expensive to build and generate a significant impact on the environment.

Change the course of the rivers may involve diverting the water from which many people depend on for drinking, irrigation of crops, livestock, etc.

This also implies flood large tracts of land (with their fields, natural habitats and even villages). And of course they also pose a risk to the ecosystem and the survival of fish and other aquatic animals.

To show all these points only enough with some examples. In our blogs we have on previous occasions brought news about the issues surrounding the construction of you dams or reservoirs. One of them, who took a certain international significance is the from the Belo Monte damin Brazil, where local Aboriginal groups were in a legal battle trying to preserve its ecosystem and natural resources on which they depend for their livelihood.

And without going so far in search of our example, not too long ago I contábamos the controversy raised here same in Spain before the adoption of the construction of the Reservoir Biscarrués and complaints from environmentalists groups regarding its impact on vast areas of great ecological value, many of them belonging to the Natura 2000 network.

Having said all that, it is now time to know what are the alternatives proposed to these problems.

In view of the many dangers that large reservoirs of water intended for the hydropower can pose, there is one growing urgency to get the same energy, but without the construction of dams. Fortunately, this urgency has given rise to attractive concepts that could well point to the abandonment of the construction of dams in the future.

Of these new alternatives of Hydroelectric energy without dams I discussed in detail in our next article where we will see what are the most promising projects in search of a sustainable hydropower.

Energia hidroelectric without dams

1. Kinetic hydropower

Hydro Green Energy has developed a set of turbines that operate according to the principle of hydro-kinetics. These modular turbines can be download and upload with the help of a crane aboard, so it is easier to carry out peacekeeping operations and eliminate the need to dive below the surface of the water for purposes of control. A floating raft acts as a platform for any operation can be carried out. The capacity of each set of turbines is 250 kW.

This innovative for hydroelectric energy generation method that aquatic life is not altered, maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. Unlike conventional hydropower, does not need to build a dam to generate electricity because the only requirement is that water there is flowing.

2 Turbines FlipWing

Hydrovolts Seattle Inc. He launched the turbine called the FlipWing during 2010, in order to generate electricity without the use of dams. The important thing about this technology is that the turbine can be used to generate energy in the shallow waters, which serves as a solution for those areas where the bodies of water are not deep. The turbine is completely submerged and leaves are pushed by the current generating rotation.

This technology is believed to be capable of generating around 4 kW of power. The company is currently working on the construction of turbines of different sizes.

The FlipWing turbine can be used in water supply and irrigation channels, offering water sources areas little deep the opportunity to generate their own energy hydroelectric.

3. CARE Electric energy

Johann Hoffmann is a name that is synonymous with ecological inventions. Continuing its legacy of patented innovative concepts, Hoffmann had developed CARE Electric energy, a turbine that generates electricity while protecting marine life and ensures the passage of small boats.

The system is suspended in the middle of the bodies of water flowing, while the leaves of the turbine revolve by water flow and pressure that builds up behind the installation. The system generates up to 90 per cent of the total capacity of the generator, which is substantially higher than conventional systems.

Unlike conventional ones, the system can work year-round to generate a good supply of electricity. What is most impressive, however, is that the Electric CARE system allows the passage of fish, and small boats making it easier to maintain the ecological balance and giving way to transport and trade.

Paises Productores de Energia Eolica

En esta carrera por ofrecer una mayor cantidad de energía eléctrica a una población determinada, millones y millones de euros son invertidos para seguir profundizando y ampliando los denominados parques eólicos, con el emplazamiento de una gran cantidad de Turbinas Eólicas y siendo un ejemplo para otros países, por lo que a continuación desarrollaremos los cinco países que más producción de esta energía poseen.

Este país asiático es el mayor productor de Energía Eólica en el mundo, contando con una producción total de 45 GW de electricidad provenientes de sus 80 granjas eólicas distribuidas a lo largo del país, aunque se ha comunicado que comenzará a progresar hasta poder alcanzar la meta de los 100 GW para el 2015, y luego cumplir con toda la demanda del país para el año 2030, lo cual será sumamente ayudado por la distribución geográfica del país.

El segundo país productor de Energía Eólica en el mundo cuenta con una producción total de 43 GW de energía provenientes de su distribución de 101 Parques Eólicos, lo cual si bien es bastante, no alcanza prácticamente en nada para cubrir la demanda energética del país, ya que es uno de los países que más consume en el mundo.

Cuenta con uno de los mayores productores de turbinas eólicas del mundo, la firma GE Energy, además de contar con la granja eólica más grande del mundo, Roscoe Wind Farm, que cuenta con 627 turbinas eólicas emplazadas en su terreno, con una capacidad total de 781 MW y proveyendo electricidad a 260.000 hogares en Texas.

El último lugar del podio le corresponde a Alemania, con una capacidad de 28 GW de Energía, que permiten cubrir el 9% de la demanda energética del país, contando con el emplazamiento de unas 21607 turbinas eólicas, con planificación de seguir incrementándose con el correr del tiempo.

Cuenta además con la Turbina Eólica Más Grande del Mundo, bautizada bajo el nombre de Enercon E-126 y contando con un rotor de 126 metros de diámetro, la cual permite generar unos 7 MW de Energía Eléctrica.

La Energía Eólica cubre tan solo el 16% de la demanda eléctrica española, con una producción total de 21 GW y siendo la tercer fuente energética del país, con planificación de que siga incrementándose su utilización y que sea protagonista de la producción energética del país en no muchos años.

La mayoría de las turbinas eólicas han sido emplazadas en regiones montañosas, además de contar con una numerosa cantidad de industrias que exportan equipamiento para Granjas Eólicas.

El quinto lugar es ocupado por India, que tiene una producción de Energía Eólica que permite alcanzar los 14 GW de Energía, cubriendo tan solo el 1.6% de la demanda energética, contando con la granja más grande del continente, Muppandal, localizada en Tamil Naddu.

La mayoría de las Turbinas Eólicas son de propiedad privada, emplazadas y utilizadas por distintas compañías para uso personal, localizadas principalmente en zonas agricultoras y montañosas, debido a que por sus características geográficas, gran parte del país no es apto para este medio energético.