Hydropower involves generating power from the flow or fall of water. The constant flow of water in a river is used to run turbines. The kinetic energy of flowing water helps rotate external turbines which in turn rotate magnets attached to them inside the generator to produce hydroelectric energy. The water then exits the rotating turbine and falls back into the flowing river. To achieve this you need to build a block wall across a river to allow kinetic storage for fruitful rotation of the turbines. Acreman (1996), explains the importance of water in a broad perspective. It emphasizes that water is a true source of life and an important component of almost everything we see around. This article seeks to explore the potential solution of hydropower in Zambia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Compared to other energy sources, hydroelectric power is much more reliable than the others. Acreman (1996), hydroelectric power has a low failure potential compared to other power generation systems. People in rural Zambia can rely heavily on hydroelectric power as their only source of energy for lighting. This is because, once installed, a single power plant can cater to a large number of people (Munyati, 2010). Likewise, the amount of energy produced by a single power plant can support a population using all equipment without the need for auxiliary energy sources. Likewise, hydropower is cheaper. Compared to previously used energy sources, such as generators, the cost of fuel in a month far exceeds the amount paid in an electric bill in most average homes. In summary, hydropower combines reliability and cost-effectiveness to contain energy problems in most rural areas. A good example is provided by Purohit (2008), the amount of money that average households use for fuel for a month is three times the amount they would use for overall fuel consumption in the home. This is true compared to rising fuel prices in most developing countries. Hydroelectric power has advantages such as those mentioned above; reliability and cost efficiency. Hydroelectric energy is renewable, because it uses Earth's water to produce energy, the sun shines on the water, evaporation occurs and clouds form resulting in rain that replaces the water again. Munyati (2010) explains that people do not have to worry about rising costs due to scarcity. Likewise, production does not emit greenhouse gases, so it is considered a clean energy source or green energy. The local community also benefits from the recreational opportunities offered by hydroelectric power; the lake that forms behind the dam is a good site for fishing, such as swimming, irrigation water and boat trips. Ultimately, it is about meeting demand as the reserve energy needed in low consumption areas can be stored and used when usage levels increase. However, hydropower, to some extent, harms the environment. A natural process such as fish migration, alteration of water flow to people downstream, and development of roads and power lines appear to disturb the principles of nature (Acreman, 1996). Climate changes, such as drought, have a heavy impact on the plant. Such a situation would lead to complete,.
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