Modern usage

Modern usage

There are several forms of water power currently in use or development. Some are purely mechanical but many primarily generate electricity. Broad categories include:

Hydroelectricity

A conventional dammed-hydro facility (hydroelectric dam) is the most common type of hydroelectric power generation.

Main article: Hydroelectricity

• Conventional hydroelectric, referring to hydroelectric dams.
• Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity, which captures the kinetic energy in rivers or streams, without the use of dams.
• Pumped-storage hydroelectricity, to pump up water, and use its head to generate in times of demand.
• Tidal power, which captures energy from the tides in horizontal direction.
  • Tidal stream power, usage of stream generators, somewhat similar to that of a wind turbine.
  • Tidal barrage power, usage of a tidal dam.
  • Dynamic tidal power, utilizing large areas to generate head.

Marine energy

A Pelamis wave device under test at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Orkney, Scotland.

Main article: Marine energy

• Marine current power, which captures the kinetic energy from marine currents.
• Osmotic power, which channels river water into a container separated from sea water by a semi-permeable membrane.
• Ocean thermal energy, which exploits the temperature difference between deep and shallow waters.
• Tidal power, which captures energy from the tides in horizontal direction. Also a popular form of hydroelectric power generation.
  • Tidal stream power, usage of stream generators, somewhat similar to that of a wind turbine.
  • Tidal barrage power, usage of a tidal dam.
  • Dynamic tidal power, utilizing large areas to generate head.
• Wave power, the use ocean surface waves to generate power.