Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity is a form of renewable energy that uses the flow of water to generate electricity.
Hydroelectric power plants create energy by using the force of water to turn turbines that generate electricity. Most commonly the water is stored behind a large dam.
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A New Vision for United States Hydropower
The Hydropower Vision analysis finds that with continued technology advancements, innovative market mechanisms, and a focus on environmental sustainability, U.S. hydropower could grow from its current 101 gigawatts (GW) to nearly 150 GW of combined electricity generating and storage capacity by 2050.
California Hydroelectric Statistics and Data
Edward Hyatt Power Plant at Oroville DamPhoto by California Department of Water Resources
In 2018, hydro-produced electricity used by California totaled nearly 26,344 gigawatt-hours (GWh),or 13.51 percent of the state's total system power. A total of 270 hydroelectric facilities with an installed capacity of 14,009 megawatts (MW). The amount of hydroelectricity produced varies each year and is largely dependent on snowmelt runoff and rainfall. The annual average hydroelectric generation from 1983 through 2018 is 271.8 GWh.
Hydro facilities in California fall into one of two categories. Facilities smaller than 30 MW capacity are generally considered an eligible renewable energy resource and are referred to as small hydro. These small hydro facilities must be certified for the net MWh to count according to renewable energy portfolio standards. There are a few cases where some hydro facilities larger than 30 MW may also be eligible under specific eligibility criteria. All other hydro facilities are referred to as large hydro.
One of those hydro facilities is the Edward Hyatt Power Plant on Oroville Dam, pictured on the right. According to the Calif. Dept. of Water Resources, the "Hyatt Power Plant was constructed in the bedrock below Lake Oroville. A cavern the size of two football fields was dug out to house the facility." The Hyatt Power Plant is a large hydro facility and is part of California's State Water Project, which is the largest state-built water and power development and conveyance system in the United States. Hyatt is the fourth largest energy producer of all the hydroelectric facilities in California.
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