Definition of Hydropower

Hydropower or 'water power' can be defined as the potential energy contained in water at a height. Water constantly moves through a vast global cycle, evaporating from lakes and oceans, forming clouds, precipitating as rain or snow, then falling back to the ocean. The energy of this cycle can be tapped to produce electricity or for mechanical tasks like grinding grain. One third of the solar radiation reaching the Earth is responsible for running of the hydrologic cycle. Therefore, the energy of water never fails to be replenished. Because the hydrologic cycle is a never ending system, hydropower is considered a renewable energy. Indeed, it is the largest renewable resource used for electricity generation.