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Hydroelectric power is the process through which electricity is generated from water. Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dam water driving a water turbine and generator. Hydroelectric plants tend to have longer lives than fuel-fired generators. Hydroelectric plants generally have small to negligible emissions of carbon dioxide and methane due to reservoir emissions, but it does not emit sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, dust, or other pollutants associated with combustion. The hydroelectric plants may have several purposes including electricity generation, flood control, navigation, irrigation, public water supply, and recreation. A hydroelectric power plant has the following components: reservoir, dam, turbine, penstock, valve, tailrace, transformer, and alternator. The construction of diversion and storage dams for hydroelectric power plants requires suitable topography and other site conditions, and a steep drop in the elevation of the river. Construction of hydroelectric plant is capital intensive but the operating costs are low since there are no fuel costs associated with a hydroelectric plant. Hydroelectric power plants have low maintenance cost too and thus have a long lifetime. Industrial hydroelectric plants are normally created for the industrial enterprises, as they require large number of electricity. Small-scale hydroelectricity is set up for single homes or community and produces electricity up to 10 to 30 megawatts electricity. Unlike industrial or public hydroelectricity plants small-scale plants do not require large capital, engineering and environmental study.
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