Abstract: . . .  from hydropower . s Washing ton, Oregon, Califor nia, and N ew Y ork are the states produc ing the largest amount of hydroelectric ity. Worldwide s One-fifth of all the world ’s electric ity is generated by hydropower . s Twenty-four c ountries get ab out 9 0 perc ent of their electric ity from waterpower, including Norway, Brazil, P arag uay, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia . Data a vailable in 2003 77 ENERGY FOR KEEPS: ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY Page 10 78 ENERGY FOR KEEPS: ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY  . . .
. . .  hydropower . s Washing ton, Oregon, Califor nia, and N ew Y ork are the states produc ing the largest amount of hydroelectric ity. Worldwide s One-fifth of all the world ’s electric ity is generated by hydropower . s Twenty-four c ountries get ab out 9 0 perc ent of their electric ity from waterpower, including Norway, Brazil, P arag uay, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia . Data a vailable in 2003 77 ENERGY FOR KEEPS: ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY Page 10 78 ENERGY FOR KEEPS: ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY  . . .
. . .  river is equal to several million horsepower. (One million horsepower, if converted to electricity, would equal the power of 746 MW.) You can imagine how easily this much force can be put to work driving waterwheels or water turbines. W = watt kW = kilowatt = 1,000 watts MW = megawatt =1,000 kilowatts 1 megawatt serves about 1,000 homes in the United States. REMINDER VOCABULARY flow head horsepower impoundment penstock pumped storage run-of-river (diversion) tailrace water cycle Renewable Energy Source: HYDROPOWER Page 2 70 ENERGY FOR KEEPS: ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY The Steeper the Better The amount of force that water can impart depends on two factors: the head, the vertical distance the water falls; and the flow, the volume (amount or mass) of the water. The greater the head and the flow, the more water energy is available. So hydropower systems work best with a steep drop (high head) and a large flow. One gallon (3.8 liters) of water falling 100 feet (30 meters) per second can . . .
--3000,3,500,2260,16785