Abstract:

Increasing energy prices, exponentially growing power need and detrimental effects of conventional fossil fuel consumption has lead scientists and engineers to find alternative and clean ways of energy production. Hydropower is one of the clean and renewable energy extraction methods providing very high potential of energy with considerably high predictability. Conventional hydroelectric plants (HEPP) are quite old technique of energy production covering about one fifth of electricity need of the world. Hydroelectric energy is site specific and most of the suitable locations for HEPPs are already exploited. Also the conventional technology have high amount of civil works together with serious environmental impacts. In this study, both conventional and alternative hydropower production methods were reviewed with special emphasize on modern technology and processes. Run-of-river hydropower production schemes, tidal energy and other in-stream energy conversion systems, wave energy technologies, ocean thermal and osmotic power stations were analyzed. The methodology and device mechanisms were investigated. 

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