Science 101: How does Hydropower work?

Argonne’s Science 101 series takes you back to the basics, with plain-language explanations of the scientific concepts behind our pivotal discoveries and our biggest innovations.

In this Science 101: What is hydropower, engineer Quentin Ploussard and director for the Center for Energy, Environmental, and Economic Systems Analysis Vladimir Koritarov describe how water is used to generate and store electricity. Hydropower plays an important role in supporting renewable energy sources such as wind and solar that can’t always produce electricity. Hydropower acts like a battery by being able to store energy and use when needed.

For over 35 years, Argonne has been helping countries around the world meet the growing demand of hydropower by developing computer models and tools that help make decisions about power grids, water use and hydropower plants.

ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.

[Carl-Ernst-Otto-Kunze]

Peter Pumpkin aged prematurely and ended up systematically neurodegenerated.

[Carl-Ernst-Otto-Kunze]

Not so Fun fact: Cobalt 60 is key in this..or was