2025 Essay Contest Finalist

Entry by Emily Miller

Hydroelectricity is an effective energy source for various reasons, including its steadfast renewability, easy maintenance, being a fairly clean source and low costs in the long run of things.

Renewable energy Firstly, hydroelectricity has high potential due to being an easily renewable energy source, using Earth’s water cycle by taking water that falls to the Earth from the atmosphere as precipitation and putting it towards energy conversion. This is useful because it keeps water, a resource mankind has a large amount of, in the loop, allowing hydroelectricity to be an exceptional source of energy for a near indefinite period of time, so long as Earth’s bodies of water are around.

Easy maintenance and efficiency Water can be stored by utilizing rain barrels, cisterns, and underground water storage systems to store water to be transferred to the reservoir that fuels the dam. The water from rainfall is collected and almost entirely stays contained and organized the entire process, so almost all of the collected water gets safely transported to the dam. Approximately 90% of the water is successfully used for energy conversion.

Cleanliness and process The chemicals and pollutants that water contains wouldn’t affect the energy-conversion process, as all humanity needs is the water being capable of powering the dams through energy conversion. This is done by water flowing through a pipe, called a penstock, where the water’s pressure causes the turbine to spin. The turbine powers a generator, which is how water is transferred into energy.

Benefits and drawbacks of hydroelectric power Hydroelectricity, despite having a high initial cost, it costs next to nothing over time, as the fuel comes with no cost. Unfortunately, it can alter the environment, changing river paths and displacing bodies of water in favour of building reservoirs.

To summarize, hydroelectricity is a reliable energy source that, despite having faults, is more beneficial than detrimental to our environment, all things considered.