Hydroelectricity is the most reliable source of renewable energy, and it provides over 17% of the world’s total electricity. This means that hydroelectricity is currently an attractive industry for developing countries in Asia. However, there are many challenges to overcome before utilizing this resource. These obstacles are being met head on by leaders across the continent with new projects and innovations. By understanding these challenges, you can see how hydroelectricity is a valuable resource that continues to be utilized around the world for its benefits.
Why Hydroelectricity Is So Important
Growing economies are growing rapidly. The cost of energy in Asia is rising quickly, as well. In the last couple of years, we have seen a large influx of renewable energy entering the energy market. Since fossil fuel sources are finite and unsustainable, a shift towards renewable energy sources is imperative.
Considering the source of most of the power for these new renewable energy projects, hydroelectricity is the most sustainable source of energy. Many of the world’s largest hydroelectric projects are located in Asia. These projects store water for later usage and are supplied by rivers. Many of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams are located in Asian countries such as China, India, and Japan.
Because of its decentralized nature, hydroelectricity is able to provide an inexpensive, reliable source of electricity for many developing countries. Since the dams can be placed near cities, which produce a lot of electricity, hydroelectricity can serve as a replacement for dirty coal-powered energy. If all the water in the world was harnessed, it would provide 1.2 million megawatts of power. These numbers are even more impressive when you consider that it can also be used to purify water, too. So, hydroelectricity is a sustainable, renewable, clean form of energy that is not only affordable, but also ideal for developing countries.
Hydroelectricity is a centuries-old industry that is incredibly versatile. The method is used not only for electricity generation, but also for powering desalination plants, thermal power plants, factories, and industries. In fact, hydroelectricity is considered an essential element in the modern energy grid as it provides backup power during and after natural disasters.
Currently, hydroelectricity covers a wide range of countries. The hydroelectricity market is broken down into many different sectors, such as electricity generation, transmission and distribution, and power plant engineering.
The Challenges Of Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is often thought of as a clean, renewable energy source. However, since it requires a significant amount of energy to generate, it must be used carefully. When electricity is not needed, it is wasted. The excess water and wasted energy can also cause problems for surrounding regions.
To generate the electricity that hydroelectricity needs, a large amount of energy is needed. A greater amount of electricity is needed when the height of the dam is increased. Higher dam heights will lower the cost of hydroelectricity, but the increased energy demand will also require more energy storage.
Furthermore, increasing the height of a dam is a very costly process.
How Do We Solve These Problems?
As you may know, developing countries do not typically have large amounts of fossil fuels available to power their electrical grid. This is why hydroelectricity remains so important for them. As such, countries like Thailand, Nepal, and China are utilizing hydroelectricity as the primary source of energy for their electrical grids.
There are a few causes of the current inability to leverage hydroelectricity as a resource. These include a lack of knowledge on the sector and a lack of government support. While this can’t be avoided, it can be mitigated by understanding where these problems lie. Through this, it is possible to seek out solutions that will help raise awareness about the positive uses of the resource, and build stronger relationships with potential partners in the sector.
Once upon a time, the choice between fossil fuel and hydroelectricity was made with little consideration. There were several reasons to go with fossil fuels, including abundance of energy, cheap prices, and lower manufacturing costs. However, there were more benefits to switching to hydroelectricity, most notably that it was a renewable source of energy that was abundant, reliable, and dependable. Additionally, hydroelectricity can operate continuously with little to no maintenance, and it doesn’t use harmful chemicals or by-products that might affect the surrounding area.
Conclusion
The World Energy Council has revealed that by 2050, demand for electricity is expected to increase significantly. There will be additional demand for electricity, especially for developing countries. Having clean, renewable energy, in particular, is paramount to reducing carbon emissions. That means that it is crucial for any country or province to focus on achieving greater sustainability. There are many factors that make hydroelectricity a reliable, cost-effective energy source for developing regions around the world. This resource is still undergoing some growing pains. However, it continues to be utilized around the world for its benefits.
The benefits of hydroelectricity are numerous. It is safe, reliable, and renewable, and it does not contribute to global warming. In fact, it is a perfect compliment to current sources of energy. As technology improves and the demands of the global economy increase, hydroelectricity will continue to be a key component of the energy sector in Asia.
