ABSTRACT
This chapter provides large amounts of energy to actual energy distribution installations, while emerging technologies are mostly low-power proposals that are rarely integrated in real distribution systems. Hydroelectricity is considered to be renewable, as it depends on the everlasting water cycle; nonetheless, many variables must be taken into account since changes in water supply for a given location can decrease performance. Impoundment hydroelectric generators use the most basic operation principle, as they are based on converting potential energy of raised accumulated water into a quick flow to move a generator's propeller. Generated electric energy of an impoundment power plant depends on some key parameters, such as the water behind the dam, reservoir capacity, flow rate of the water inside the penstock, and the efficiencies of penstock, turbine, and generator. The power plant energy losses are due to penstock friction and turbulence, and turbine and generator efficiencies.
