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.

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.

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 …

Nov 14, 2025 · hydroelectric power, electricity produced from generators driven by turbines that convert the potential energy of falling or fast-flowing water into mechanical energy.

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 century, a few...

Apr 20, 2023 · 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.

Sep 12, 2025 · What is hydropower energy? Hydropower energy, also called hydroelectric power, is electricity generated by converting the movement of water into mechanical and then …

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 waterfall—to generate …

Hydropower is a type of renewable energy that uses the power of water flows to generate electricity. The energy that is generated by hydropower plants is clean, reliable, and …

Hydropower currently generates more electricity than all other renewable technologies combined and is expected to remain the world’s largest source of renewable electricity generation into …