361
13
Power and Energy
Directly from Water
13.1 intrOdUCtiOn
In Chapters 2 through 12, we examined (1) the benign role water plays for fuel
production and energy carrier; (2) water (in the form of steam, water, or supercritical
water) as a chemical solvent, reactant, or catalyst to generate fuels; and (3) the direct
role it plays to generate hydrogen and methane. In this chapter, we briefly examine
the direct role of water for the generation of power and electricity.
Water can directly generate energy and power in three different ways: hydropotential energy (or hydroelectricity), hydrokinetic energy (or a mixture of hydrokinetic
energy and hydropotential energy like in tidal wave), and the use of ocean thermal
energy conversion (OTEC) technologies. Here, we examine all three methods for
generating power with the direct use of water.
The use of water dams to generate hydroelectricity has been practiced for a long
time. This is a very clean method for power generation since it has a very little effect
on greenhouse gas (GHG) production. Along with hydroelectricity, in recent years,
hydrokinetic energy that uses the kinetic energy stored in tidal waves, sea and ocean
shore waves, and undercurrents and inland waterways has been harnessed to generate electricity with the numerous different types of devices. The energy can also be
harnessed from the temperature difference between the surfaces of the ocean (warm)
and deep water (cold) using numerous OTEC devices. All three methods solely use
water to generate power. This chapter briefly describes our current state of art on
this subject.
13.2 hydrOeleCtriC POWer By Water dams
Water has been used for a long time to directly generate energy and power
through hydroelectricity [1–32] (Zainuddin et al., 2012, pers. comm.). In this
process, electricity is generated by hydropower, the production of electrical
power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.
It is the most widely used form of renewable energy for power generation and
accounts for 16% of global electricity consumption. This method has generated
about 3427 TWh of electricity in 2010 [1]. Hydropower is produced in 150 different countries, with the Asia-Pacific region generating 32% of global hydropower
in 2010 [1]. The top 10 countries for hydroelectricity generation in 2009 are listed
in Table 13.1 [1]. As summarized in Table 13.1, China is the largest producer of
hydroelectricity. Major new projects that are under construction worldwide are
listed in Table 13.2 [1].
13
Power and Energy
Directly from Water
13.1 intrOdUCtiOn
In Chapters 2 through 12, we examined (1) the benign role water plays for fuel
production and energy carrier; (2) water (in the form of steam, water, or supercritical
water) as a chemical solvent, reactant, or catalyst to generate fuels; and (3) the direct
role it plays to generate hydrogen and methane. In this chapter, we briefly examine
the direct role of water for the generation of power and electricity.
Water can directly generate energy and power in three different ways: hydropotential energy (or hydroelectricity), hydrokinetic energy (or a mixture of hydrokinetic
energy and hydropotential energy like in tidal wave), and the use of ocean thermal
energy conversion (OTEC) technologies. Here, we examine all three methods for
generating power with the direct use of water.
The use of water dams to generate hydroelectricity has been practiced for a long
time. This is a very clean method for power generation since it has a very little effect
on greenhouse gas (GHG) production. Along with hydroelectricity, in recent years,
hydrokinetic energy that uses the kinetic energy stored in tidal waves, sea and ocean
shore waves, and undercurrents and inland waterways has been harnessed to generate electricity with the numerous different types of devices. The energy can also be
harnessed from the temperature difference between the surfaces of the ocean (warm)
and deep water (cold) using numerous OTEC devices. All three methods solely use
water to generate power. This chapter briefly describes our current state of art on
this subject.
13.2 hydrOeleCtriC POWer By Water dams
Water has been used for a long time to directly generate energy and power
through hydroelectricity [1–32] (Zainuddin et al., 2012, pers. comm.). In this
process, electricity is generated by hydropower, the production of electrical
power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.
It is the most widely used form of renewable energy for power generation and
accounts for 16% of global electricity consumption. This method has generated
about 3427 TWh of electricity in 2010 [1]. Hydropower is produced in 150 different countries, with the Asia-Pacific region generating 32% of global hydropower
in 2010 [1]. The top 10 countries for hydroelectricity generation in 2009 are listed
in Table 13.1 [1]. As summarized in Table 13.1, China is the largest producer of
hydroelectricity. Major new projects that are under construction worldwide are
listed in Table 13.2 [1].