Hydro power

Letting water do the work

The salmon uses the natural power of water much like a turbine. This king of swimmers flips its very powerful tail on the upthrust of current beneath a waterfall to power its jump (rather like an upside-down diving board). At the top of the waterfall light refracting on the water tells it how high to jump.

Within the power station are large hydro electric turbines. Water flows in through the penstock and turns the blades, which power the generator with electric current, which in turn passes its power to the transformers above it. From there the electricity is carried away by pylons to the grid (and ourselves!)

Hydro electric turbines are still the giants among turbines and have been around for many years. They were the earliest forms of renewable energy to be explored and developed.