How Hydropower Works

Water + Gravity = Hydropower.

Water stored in a reservoir is potential energy that works similarly to a battery. The more water you have and the farther it has to fall, the more energy you generate. When the water is allowed to run downhill, either in the natural river channel or in a tunnel or pipe, that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The moving water hits the turbine and makes it spin, producing mechanical energy. The generator (connected to the turbine) then converts that mechanical energy into electrical energy, which can be distributed to homes and businesses.