Annotated Summary

Energy informative (n.d.). Hydroelectric Energy Pros and Cons.

https://energyinformative.org/hydroelectric-energy-pros-and-cons/


Hydroelectricity, also known as hydropower, is a form of electricity generated from a moving body of water, making it a renewable and green energy source. In 2006, over 20% of the world’s electricity consumption was produced using hydroelectricity. This article by Energy Informative introduces more about the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectricity.

Hydropower is a non-polluting source of energy and can be continuously generated by ensuring uninterrupted water flow through the turbines. As different levels of the power supply are reliant on user consumption, power generation can also be adjusted by tweaking the water flow. The use of hydroelectric energy is a much safer option compared to other sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy, as there is no physical fuel involved in its generation. However, the construction of hydropower plants requires disruption of water flow which will threaten nearby ecosystems. Plus, the construction of roads and power lines requires draining of the water source, which also impacts the environment, and brings along a very high price tag. Besides that, these plants can last for a long time and do not require a lot of manpower for operation.

This article provides an important insight into our research towards AI_Whirlpool, which is an ocean clean-up device. Integrating equipment such as a hydroelectricity generator into AI_Whirlpool will allow it to recharge its batteries using hydropower, thus cutting down the reliance of using charging ports as its main source of power. This will also turn it into self-sustaining machinery, entailing that AI_Whirlpool will be able to stay out in open bodies of water for a long period of time. This research also provides a strong argument on the pros and cons of hydroelectricity, which is important as we are currently exploring and weighing different methods to build the AI_Whirlpool as a self-sustainable device.