In the electricity sector, hydroelectricity is the largest renewable energy source in canada, accounting for approximately 60 percent of canadas electricity generation. Mar 21, 2020 hydroelectric power has certain advantages over these other sources. There are 34 active major international transmission lines connecting canada to the u. The computation was done at the country or political region usa, canada. List of hydroelectric power stations in canada wikipedia. The amount of energy produced depends on volume and speed. For this reason, many hydroelectric stations are built near waterfalls. Alterations in canadian hydropower production potential due to.
Hydroelectricity in quebec was a politically charged topic because there were a few dozen private hydro companies, but their territories crisscrossed and the fees were exorbitant. Abundant availability of untapped reserves with growing measures towards clean and reliable electricity is anticipated to drive the industry growth. Drawing upon the enormous potential from the rivers of the hudson bay drainage basin, ontario and quebec led the way, and, by 1920, 97% of the electricity generated in canada was produced by hydro power. From the late 1800s onward, hydropower stations have been constructed from coast to coast in canada. Forrest kerr hydroelectric project, british columbia. Blessed with abundant and powerful water resources, canada was also quick to embrace hydroelectric development. Hydro power, nuclear power and wind generate 80% of canada s electricity, coal and natural gas are burned for the remaining 20%. Over two thousand years ago, people in greece used flowing water to turn the wheel of their mill to ground wheat into flour. Hydroelectric plants emit, on average, 35 times less ghgs than natural gasfired plants.
Hydroelectric power is a preferred energy source in areas with heavy rainfall and with hilly or mountainous regions that are in reasonably. Archaeologists confirm that the history of the storage dam. The main subject of the section concerns shawinigan water and power, one of the largest privately owned companies to produce electricity in canada. A brief history of hydropower from its earliest beginnings to the modern era some of the first innovations in using water for power were conceived in china during the han dynasty between 202 bc and 9 ad. As with a number of renewable technologies our ancient ancestors were often at the forefront of innovation using it to create. Canada is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world, generating over 60% of its electricity using hydroelectric dams. Waterpower is canadas most abundant source of clean and renewable electricity. The history of hydroelectric power energy informative.
Canada s hydropower industry1 offers a broad range of benefits that touch virtually every segment of the economy. Actually, hydroelectric and coalfired power plants produce electricity in a similar way. Hydropower development in nepal deepak adhikari hydropower has been recognised as a sustainable source of energy with almost zero input cost. During 2018, work progressed on four major hydropower projects under construction across four provinces. Canadas hydroelectric potential canadian geographic. Other top producers of hydropower around the world include the united states, brazil, canada, india, and russia. Some of the first innovations in using water for power were conceived in china during the han dynasty between 202 bc and 9 ad. The source of energy for a hydroelectric dam is water. It is usually made with dams that block a river to make a reservoir or collect water that is pumped there. In both cases a power source is used to turn a propellerlike piece called a turbine, which then turns a metal shaft in an electric generator, which is the motor that produces electricity. Its usually produced by dams, because dams can store and direct large volumes of water. Home resources hydropower basics history of hydropower the greeks used water wheels for grinding wheat into flour more than 2,000 years ago. A history of electric power in manitoba manitoba hydro. Hydropower market size, trends industry share report 2017.
Before the discovery of hydroelectricity, man was already finding new and ingenious ways to utilise the energy of running water across the world that would form the platform for our power stations. Approximately 71 percent of all of the renewable electricity generated on earth is from hydropower. The canadian hydropower association and canadian geographic invite you to use this map as a tool to explore that story and learn about one of canadas greatest resources. May 25, 2016 when canadians ponder the countrys energy resources, we tend to think about the west and the vast reserves of oil and gas. The sector is organized along provincial and territorial lines.
The origin of hydroelectric production in canada the. The history of hydroelectric power the technology to take advantage of falling water and get useful mechanic energy is old. Hydropower introduction historical water has always been one of mankinds most vital resources. For more information on historical growth rates for. The theory is to build a dam on a large river that has a large drop in elevation there are not many hydroelectric plants in kansas or florida. Hydroelectricity is produced when moving water rotates a. We often overlook our most abundant energy resource, hydro. When the water is released, the pressure behind the dam forces the water downpipes that lead to a turbine.
This flexibility also makes hydroelectricity a good match for less controllable intermittent energy sources. Just as the construction of the national railway helped to define canada as a country, so too did hydropower development. Electricity can be generated when demand increases. Hydropower has all the key winwin characteristics to set it apart from alternative electricity investment options.
The greeks used water wheels for grinding wheat into flour more than 2,000 years ago. Hydroelectric energy, also called hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is a form of energy that harnesses the power of water in motionsuch as water flowing over a waterfallto generate electricity. In the mid20th century, hydroelectric power through dams could not meet the demands of the growing u. This role reaches far back into the countrys history and will continue to spin off future development. Hydroelectric plants emit, on average, 35 times less ghgs than natural gasfired plants and approximately 70 times less than coalfired plants. The commissioning of the first hydropower generating station in the united states by thomas edison in 1882 marked the beginning of an era of hydroelectricity in north america. Edmonton was the first major urban centre in canada to own its own electricity utility. Since then numerous other hydroelectric power stations have surpassed the 100 mw threshold. The hydro industry and the aboriginal people of canada. Canada, because of its size and geography, is the worlds third largest generator of hydroelectricity, after only china and brazil.
Hydroelectricity, ontario, energy, timothy mitchell, hydro democracy. The founder of the company, max aitken, was initially drawn to the region by its vast hydroelectricity potential. Near the bottom of the dam wall there is the water intake. When canadians ponder the countrys energy resources, we tend to think about the west and the vast reserves of oil and gas. Hydroelectric power has certain advantages over these other sources. The canadian hydropower association would like to thank the many people who contributed to. As with a number of renewable technologies our ancient ancestors were often at the forefront of innovation using it to.
Canada is the worlds second largest producer of hydroelectricity. With more than years of history, the canadian hydropower industry. An excellent book detailing the history of hydroelectricity is the two volume set of hydroelectric development in the united states 1880 1940 prepared for the task force on cultural resource management, edison electric institute, duncan hay, new york state museum, 1991. Introduction to hydropower hydroelectric power, or hydroelectricity, is basically electrical energy that has been generated using natural forces such as gravity or flowing water. Renewable energy accounts for twothirds of canadas power generation largely due to its significant hydropower resources, which make it the third largest producer of hydropower in the world in 2018. Renewable energy accounts for twothirds of canada s power generation largely due to its significant hydropower resources, which make it the third largest producer of hydropower in the world in 2018. Canadian journal of the history of science, technology and medicine. Hydroelectricity is energy produced from flowing water. Besides grinding flour, the power of the water was used to saw wood and power textile mills and manufacturing plants. The company would develop into canadas largest investorowned utility. The wind power industry is so large that the province now ranks second in canada in terms of installed capacity. Apr 15, 20 hydroelectricity is an established powergeneration technology with over 100 years of commercial operation.
Hydroelectricity in canada wikipedia republished wiki 2. The history of hydropower started over 2000 years ago, when water wheels were being used by the ancient greeks to grind grain. Indeed, in 1885, a first hydropower generating station became operational near montmorency falls to provide lighting to the city of quebec. Hydroelectric energy is produced when the kinetic energy of water is converted into electricity using a hydro turbine generator there are several methods for using water to power a hydro turbine generator, but they each generally function in a relatively similar manner, all using the same fundamental laws of physics. Canada exports nearly 9% of the electricity it generates to the united states. The resource potential for hydropower is currently based on historical data for the.
Canada is a world leader in the production and use of renewable energy, with renewable energy representing 17 percent of canadas total primary energy supply. To produce energy, water is directed toward turbines sometimes with the help of a dam causing them to spin. Trip hammers powered by a verticalset water wheel were used to pound and hull grain, break ore, and in early papermaking. Hydropower has enabled canadians to meet their need for energy, making life easier and safer. Note that in general, this does not refer to the energy obtained by flowing water in the form of tides. In a majority of provinces, large governmentowned integrated public utilities play a leading role in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Some hydroelectricity generators use pumped storage to store excess energy often during the night, by using the electricity to pump water up into a basin.
Growing investment towards sustainable energy may further complement industry landscape. While hydroelectricity dominates quebecs energy sector, the province also produces a lot of energy from wind. Hydroelectric power, or hydroelectricity, is basically electrical energy that has been generated using natural forces such as gravity or flowing water. Hydroelectricity simple english wikipedia, the free. May 25, 2016 hydroelectricity in quebec was a politically charged topic because there were a few dozen private hydro companies, but their territories crisscrossed and the fees were exorbitant. History of hydroelectric power home guides sf gate. Hydropower is the process of utilizing the mechanical potential energy of flowing water, transforming it into electrical energy to generate electricity. While the human body can go weeks without food, it can only survive for a couple of days without water consumption. In 20, quebec accounted for half 52% of installed hydro capacity in canada. The most practical hydroelectric sites are those located close to load centres, and canada has developed power stations in the majority of these locations. That year, the provincial government nationalized montreal light, heat and power, an electricity and gas company to create the quebec hydroelectric. Humans have been harnessing water to perform work for thousands of years.
Canada generated 61 % of its electricity supply from hydroelectricity in 1999, mostly with large dams renewable energy in canada. Hydropower has been used ever since the ancient greeks, who used water wheels to grind grain. Forrest kerr is a 195mw runofriver hydroelectric project located on the iskut river in british columbia, approximately 1,000km northwest of vancouver, canada. Hydroelectricity is electricity made by generators that are pushed by the movement of water. Comparing three of the major hydroelectric powerproducing countries during the war canada, the united states, and germany this article considers the implications of expanding hydroelectricity for war production and strategy, and how wartime decisions structured the longerterm evolution of large technological systems. This makes canada the second largest generator of hydroelectricity in the world, after china. Christopher armstrong, the leading historians in this field, the story surrounding the.
This causes the turbine to turn, which turns a generator which makes electricity. Canada is the worlds second largest producer of hydroelectricity after china. Hydropower in canada past present and future legal deposit. A brief history of hydropower international hydropower. Hydroelectric generation does not produce significant greenhouse gases, but it does have other major environmental impacts. The way hydropower works has changed and evolved through the ages, and today it is done by the force of gravity making water fall on to a turbine, which then spins very fast in order to create power and electricity. The dam stores lots of water behind it in the reservoir. History of hydroelectric power ancient history of hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric energy is the most commonlyused renewable source of electricity.
As manitobas inclusion in the confederation of canada drew nearer, the. Water is considered to be the earliest renewable energy resource to be exploited by man. Hydropower market size, trends industry share report. A water turbine generator is a device that converts water power into electricity. While canada reduces the carbon footprint in the us by exporting 10% of total hydroelectricity, more than half of all canadian homes and businesses burn natural gas for heat.
During 2018, work progressed on four major hydropower. It was used to power street lights and local mills. With the exception of manitoba, which in 2004 generated eight per cent of canadas hydroelectricity, the remaining provinces and territories all generated less than one per cent. It is the thirdmost consumed energy in canada behind oil and. Drawing upon the enormous potential from the rivers of the hudson bay drainage basin, ontario and quebec led the way, and, by 1920, 97% of the electricity generated in. The electricity sector in canada has played a significant role in the economic and political life of the country since the late 19th century. The mechanical energy of the moving water is converted into electricity by spinning large turbines connected to electric generators. Hydroelectricity is produced when moving water rotates a turbine shaft. Hydroelectricity is an established powergeneration technology with over 100 years of commercial operation. In canada, all hydropower projects are subject to a comprehensive environmental. In 2015, canada was a global leader in total hydroelectricity production, second.