American Electrical Directory lists electric companies that use waterpower for some or all of their generation. Ames, Colorado; Westinghouse alternator driven by Pelton waterwheel, foot head. Frankfort on Main, Germany; First three-phase hydroelectric system used for km, 25, volt demonstration line from plant at Lauffen. Bodie, California; Mill Creek, California; First American three-phase hydroelectric plant.
Westinghouse demonstrates "universal system" of generation and distribution at Chicago exposition. Folsom, California; Three-phase, 60 cycle, 11, volt alternators installed at plant on American River. Austin, Texas; First dam designed specifically for hydroelectric power built across Colorado River. Minneapolis, Minnesota; Lower Dam hydroelectric plant completed at St. Trenton Falls, New York; First installation of high head reaction turbines designed and built in the U.
Massena, New York; Dam and powerhouse built at confluence of St. Reclamation Act of establishes the Reclamation Service which later becomes the U. Sault Ste. Big Creek, California; Construction begins on a hydroelectric system that would eventually include eight powerhouses, over a 6, foot fall, rated at , kW.
Holtwood, Pennsylvania; First commercial installation of Kingsbury vertical thrust bearing in hydroelectric plant. National Defense Act authorizes construction of government dam and powerplant at Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Viktor Kaplan demonstrates adjustable blade propeller turbine runner at Podebrady, Czechoslovakia. Federal Power Act establishes Federal Power Commission with authority to issue licenses for hydroelectric development on public lands.
Federal Power Commission authority extended to all hydroelectric projects built by utilities engaged in interstate commerce. Over hydroelectric facilities produce about one third of the United States' electrical energy. First power generated at Grand Coulee Powerplant, Washington - Presently the third largest hydroelectric plant in the world at 6, megawatts installed capacity.
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Protects rivers in their natural state by excluding them from consideration as hydroelectric power sites. National Environmental Policy Act - Ensures that environmental considerations are systematically taken into account by Federal agencies.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act - Ensures equal consideration of fish and wildlife protection in the activities of Federal agencies. Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act - Encourages small-scale power production facilities; exempted certain hydroelectric projects from Federal licensing requirements, and required utilities to purchase - at "avoided cost" rates - power from small production facilities that use renewable resources.
First power generated at New Melones Dam in California. Energy Security Act - Exempted small-scale hydroelectric power from some licensing requirements. Electric Consumers Protection Act - Amended the Federal Power Act to remove public preference for relicensing actions; gives equal consideration to non-power values e. First power generated at Guri Raul Leoni powerplant, Venezuela - Presently the second largest hydroelectric powerplant in the world at 10, megawatts installed capacity.
Energy Policy Act of - An act to provide for improved energy efficiency. National Hydropower Association establishes the Hydropower Research Foundation to facilitate research and to promote educational opportunities on the value of hydropower.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized, through its licensing authority under the Federal Power Act, almost 1, hydroelectric projects. Diesel fuel. Heating oil. Also in Oil and petroleum products explained Oil and petroleum products Refining crude oil Where our oil comes from Imports and exports Offshore oil and gas Use of oil Prices and outlook Oil and the environment.
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In ancient Mesopotamia and Greece, over 6, years ago, they were developing irrigation and devices such as water clocks, one of the oldest time measuring instruments. In about 1, BC the Persians developed Qanat technology that used long, narrow channels or tunnels that ran almost vertically to provide water for local populations.
Around the same time the Ancient Chinese were doing something similar in the Turpan region of their country. We have the Greeks and the Romans to thank for the development of the water mill which became a staple technology for communities across the globe and is still in use in many parts of the world today. Our earliest physical remains of such a device being used is in the 3 rd Century BC in Perachora in Greece but there is written evidence of it being used as far back as BC.
This valuable technology, probably one of the first renewable energies in human existence, spread rapidly and, in 1 AD we know there was a settlement in France that had multiple mills working to grind wheat into flour. As time progressed, so water mills began to be used for more industrial processes such as cutting wood and marble. In China it was being used to drive bellows for smelting and other industrial processes. Sawmills, paper mills, tide mills, steel mills and sugar mills were all used extensively during this time.
By the 11th century, every province throughout the Islamic world had these industrial mills in operation. Muslim engineers also used water turbines, employed gears in watermills and water-raising machines, and pioneered the use of dams as a source of waterpower, used to provide additional power to watermills and water-raising machines. The industrial revolution is the time when Hydropower took off. At the start of the s water was used to provide power for the rapidly growing textile and machine industries.
This ground-breaking invention paved the foundation for what would become the first proper hydroelectric power plants. The first such power plant was built in Appleton, Wisconsin in and it generated Within the next decade, there were over hydroelectric power plants in the USA.
At the time it was the largest in the world and could generate up to MW of electricity. As demand for electricity soared throughout the 20th century more and more Hydropower plants were constructed across the world. According to the International Energy Agency IEA , the potential capacity of Hydropower could be tripled by if all available resources are harnessed.
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