The Role Dams Play with Energy Conservation

Huge structures are designed to control the rivers that act as a barrier. Dams are used to powerhouses, industries and every other place on Earth. Dams also help to restrict the flow of water hence preventing floods. For Americans, dams are considered to be a symbol of resourcefulness. Playing a vital role in the conservation of structures that help with energy and resources is always the top priority to the sensible population. While it might be easy just to destroy and buy something new, being able to restore and find alternative uses is smart thinking. Have you ever thought about how dams save you energy? The fast-flowing water is swirling through the turbines that are to be given credit for the production of electricity. This is a symbol, a symbol what this great nation can achieve if worked hard enough and when they’ve put their mind to it. A dam powers every community, and approximately there are 80,000 dams in the United States.

Are Dams Still Useful?

However, only a limited number of dams in the United States are used to generate hydro-energy. It is estimated that not even three percent of the dams are used for the production of energy. Ever wondered why? When you think about dams, the first word that pop in your mind is either inefficiency or immense power generating structures. Even though dams are kind of an old way to generate electricity, they’re still considered significant when the topic of American hydropower is up for debate.

In order to revive hydropower, it doesn’t mean that new dams have to be developed. Dams were considered to be an immensely important part of the mid-twentieth century. However, they aren’t as relevant now as all the ideal spots for dams have already been taken. However, to make the most of the dams and to make dams play a vital role in hydropower generation, the existing dams and the infrastructure should be improved.

Alternative Model

Let’s dig deep and explore alternative models that could potentially replace dams. However, these alternatives could be expensive. If the required improvements are made to the existing dams, hydropower can be generated with the help of the rivers. Few of the problems that exist in the existing dams are as follows:

  • Waterways are clogged
  • Delicate ecosystems are disturbed
  • Watershed are sterilized

Addition of a power turbine to a dam is far much less damaging to the environment compared to constructing a new dam. In European countries, structures use extra energy to pump water from a reservoir that is now elevated to a higher one. These structures are called ‘’pump storage” dams. A lot of positive reviews about these hence proving to be a potential alternative models. Also, to energize the destabilized the ecosystem, demolishing the non-functional dams, dams that play no role in the generation of power seems like a practical thing to do.

There’s still a lot to learn about hydropower, the pros, and the cons. There even might be more efficient ways to generate hydroelectricity. However, this doesn’t mean dams won’t play an essential role in the generation of clean energy. If the sites are chosen intelligently, dams can and will play an indispensable role.