Hydroelectricity power stations use changes in level to take advantage of the potential energy of the water flowing along rivers to generate electricity with hydraulic turbines.
Depending on the type of location there are two main kinds of power-station:
Power stations which take advantage of a difference in level on a section of a river are known as diversion, or run-of-the river facilities. This kind of facility basically consists of diverting part of the river from a small reservoir towards a channel or tunnel (with a minimum slope as far as a deposit, known as a storage pen. From here, the water flows along a pipe to the engine room where the turbine-alternator groups use the energy from the falling water and turn it into electricity. The water is then taken back to the river along a channel.
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In an impoundment facility on a dam, the body of water in the reservoir causes the difference in level, taking advantage of the potential energy of the stored water to produce electricity. The water intake is located on the dam and the machine room at the bottom of the wall to take advantage of the water energy to produce electricity. Depending on whether or not the impoundment facility can store water, it may be used to regulate water levels or maintain a constant flow of water.
So far, ALTERMIA has provided technical support to both run-of-the-river or diverted flow and impoundment hydropower plants. Given the number of references received, we would emphasise our involvement as technical advisors in the financing stage of both new and existing hydropower facilities.