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WATER ENERGY
Over 70% of the world is covered in water in the form of rivers,
lakes and oceans. That's a lot of water which equals a huge source
of renewable energy. The power of water flowing in the rivers was
one of the earliest forms of energy harnessed by humans to do mechanical
work. Water or hydro-power is a renewable source
of energy.
We have been using water power for hundreds of years here in Northern
Ireland.
1. Castle Ward, on the shores of Stangford Lough,
used the power of the incoming and outgoing tides to power a mill
which ground corn in the 1700's.
2. Wellbrook Beetling Mill, in Cookstown, used
river water in their linen manufacturing plant in the 1800's. It
was used to power large hammers which beat out the flax.
3. Barbour Treads, in Lisburn, used the running
water of the River Lagan to power the looms which turned flax into
linen.
4. Patterson's Spade Mill, Templepatrick, began
to use water energy to power the machinery to make spades in 1919,
and are still using it today.
The larger the river the more energy can be harnessed, so in some
parts of the world large rivers are used by hydro-electric
power stations to make electricity.
In hydro-electric stations, water is stored in reservoirs or behind
dams. Water flows downhill through large pipes and through the turbines.
The falling water turns the turbines, which spins the generator
to make electricity.
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