Small Hydropower
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APBiology, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Project Drawdown
What it is
- This resource is currently being revised by Project Drawdown but you can research many of the other solutions in detail on their new Drawdown Explorer page.
- This article explores small, in-stream hydropower as a climate solution, how this power source differs from large hydroelectric dams, and the emissions reductions and financial benefits of increasing small hydropower.
- Students will learn about the feasibility of this solution, the economic investment required, the economic savings after they are installed, and the benefits to nature and the climate when carefully designed projects are implemented.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The article is in the format of a scientific paper but is brief and approachable.
- The adoption scenarios in this article are precise and thoughtfully crafted, and some of the rationale behind the creation of these scenarios are provided.
Additional Prerequisites
- The first link in the References section works but the other three are broken.
- If you click a link in this article you won't be taken to a new tab.
- Students should have a basic understanding of how most power plants create energy using turbines and basics about climate change and greenhouse gases.
Differentiation
- Students can use this article for an informative essay on different types of renewable energy.
- Students can read this article at home to prepare for an in-class discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of hydropower and the amount of hydropower in America's electric grid.
- Students can compare this solution to others involving renewable energy from Project Drawdown's Table of Solutions.
- Students with low reading stamina can be placed in groups, with each group member responsible for a different section of the article. Students can then come together with their group members, each giving the key details from their section. The teacher can also listen to these "teaching" portions of group discussions as a formative assessment.
- Some students, especially those who are new to reading scientific articles, may benefit from guided notes or a graphic organizer to assist with comprehension as they read this article.
From the scientist review
This resource underscores the impact of small hydropower generation and its efficacy in solving energy needs in remote locations. It provides an analysis of how the natural flowing rivers around many settlements can be utilized to provide a clean and practically limitless supply of electricity, rather than investing in costly electric transmission networks or transferring fossil fuels to power generators. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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