Hydroelectricity appeared over 70 years ago and became the hope of mankind in many ways, especially providing renewable and relatively clean energy.
Promote economic possibilities
Normally hydroelectric projects have large investment capital, long construction time, but high efficiency and life span of 100 years or more. In the long term, there is no cheap energy technology by hydropower. Annual operating and maintenance costs are very low, compared to investment capital and lower than many other power plants.
Small and scattered projects will play an important role in rural electrification programs around the world. Launching hydropower potential will bring great benefits to both local and national. Through the development of hydropower, regional infrastructure will also be invested in synchronous and modern construction with very fast speed.
Conservation of ecosystems
Hydroelectricity uses the energy of water flow to generate electricity, without depleting natural resources, nor altering the characteristics of water after flowing through turbines.
Flexible
In power supply, hydropower is a flexible supply source, because of its ability to adjust capacity. Thanks to the hydroelectric peaking capacity, it is possible to optimize the load chart in the background by less flexible sources (such as thermal or nuclear power plants).
The hydropower plant has the capacity to work as a battery, to store giants by accumulating and discharging energy according to the needs of the electricity system.
One advantage of hydropower is that it can be started and delivered to maximum capacity in just a few minutes, while thermal power (except gas turbines) takes several hours or more in the case of nuclear power. . Therefore, hydroelectricity is often used to meet the peak part is a high requirement of load bearing flexibility.
Relatively clean
Compared to thermoelectricity, hydropower provides a clean energy source, with virtually no greenhouse gas emissions.
Contribute to sustainable development
In terms of sustainability, hydropower has great potential for preserving ecosystems, improving economic ability and enhancing social justice.
Reduce emissions
By using water sources instead of fossil fuels (especially coal), hydroelectricity reduces environmental pollution, reduces acid rain, reduces soil acidification and aquatic systems. Hydropower produces very little greenhouse gas emissions compared to other large-scale power generation options, thus reducing global warming.
The amount of greenhouse gases that hydroelectricity generates is 10 times smaller than that of combined cycle gas turbine plants and 25 times smaller than coal-fired thermal power plants. If the remaining actual hydropower potential is used instead of fossil fuel-fired power plants, 7 billion tons of emissions can be avoided annually. This is equivalent to avoiding one-third of today's human emissions, or three times the emissions of cars on the planet.
Use multi-purpose water
Hydroelectricity does not consume the amount of water it has used to generate electricity, but recharges this important water source for use in other things.
Moreover, hydropower projects also use multi-purpose water. In fact, most dams and reservoirs have many functions such as: supplying water for food production. The reservoir can also improve aquaculture and water transport conditions.
However, the local benefits of a hydropower plant sometimes conflict with the basic function of a reservoir. For example, during the dry season, the plant may decide to stop generating electricity for a certain period of time (ie without releasing water to the downstream) for various reasons (for example, to repair turbines). Similarly, during the flood season, the plant can keep the lake water level high (to increase the generating capacity) thus reducing the reservoir's ability to regulate floods.
In order to maximize water resources, the authorities with the role of resource managers and regulators of common interests for the whole region - need to have reasonable regulations in operating water plants. electricity to ensure water resources are used fairly and effectively for the whole society.