What is hydro energy? Explain the principle of generating electricity from hydro energy. How much hydro electric power is generated in India?

The kinetic energy possessed by flowing water is called hydro energy.

The most important use of hydro energy is to convert it into electrical energy by using a turbine. The electricity so obtained is called hydroelectric power.

The figure shown above shows the principle of hydroelectric power plant. The flowing water of river is collected in a dam at high altitude. The water stored in the dam has potential energy. When water from dam falls on turbine, the potential energy of the water stored in dam changes into kinetic energy and this kinetic energy of water is transferred to the blade of the turbine as rotational kinetic energy.

As the turbine rotates, it rotates the armature of the generator (or dynamo) in the magnetic field between the pole pieces N and S of a strong magnet, due to which an alternating e.m.f. is produced between the terminals T₁ and T₂

Such a mini hydroelectric power plant can be constructed on the rivers in hilly areas across a small dam of height nearly 10 m.

At present in India we are generating hydroelectricity which is only 14% of the total electricity generated by us.