COMPARISON OF ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY OF SMALL AND LARGE HYDROELECTRIC STATIONS

Abstract

Energy and more notably the electrical energy influences the style of living. It is used for recycling natural resources into food, clothing, light and shelter. Energy is required to meet up the man's fundamental needs for survival. Therefore, the demand for energy is ever increasing and its shortage has led to intensified research' for exploitation of energy from different sources. Commercial energy sources like as coal, oil, gas and atomic energy are limited and also linked to environmental problems. The depletion of fossil fuel has necessitated a change in the focus and has been directed towards developing regenerative, renewable and environment friendly energy resources. One of the major renewable source is hydro. There has been however a continous debate between large and small hydro. Very often, it has been said that small hydro is costlier than large hydro which has resulted in neglecting the small hydro development worldwide. Comparison in terms of money alone may not be always prudent especially when such vital societal requirement of energy is concerned. Therefore, it was considered to compare the large hydro with small hydro on the basis of their energy conversion efficiency over their life period....