Hydropower (from Ancient Greek ὑδρο -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines.

At hydropower plants water flows through a pipe, or penstock, then pushes against and turns blades in a turbine that spin to power a generator to produce electricity.

Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is a renewable source of energy that generates power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water.

There are four main types of hydropower plants: run-of-river, storage, pumped storage and offshore hydropower. Only a small minority of the world's dams are built for hydropower, with …

Dec 26, 2025 · hydroelectric power, electricity produced from generators driven by turbines that convert the potential energy of falling or fast-flowing water into mechanical energy.

Hydropower is essential to our clean energy future. Solar, wind and battery storage may grab the headlines, yet a simple truth is often overlooked: we can’t achieve deep decarbonization of our …

Hydropower, also known as hydroelectricity, is a semi-renewable resource that uses the flow of water to generate electricity. We categorize this resource as semi-renewable, because it must …

Oct 19, 2023 · Hydroelectric energy, also called hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is a form of energy that harnesses the power of water in motion—such as water flowing over a …

May 13, 2019 · Today, hydropower provides about 16 percent of the world's electricity, generating power in all but two U.S. states. Hydropower became an electricity source in the late 19th …

Discover hydro-power: the world’'s leading renewable energy source. Learn how it works, its benefits, and its crucial role in a sustainable future.