Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Hydropower

Hydropower harnesses the energy of moving or falling water. This is usually in the form of hydroelectricity from a dam, but it can be used directly as a mechanical force. The term refers to a number of systems in which the water drives a turbine or waterwheel placed in streams or waterfalls.

Some purely mechanical hydropower systems include the Pelton wheel, the Tyson turbine, and the Banki turbine.