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CEG Lunch 2: Hydropower - Facts that we know

The Three Gorges Dam (China)                            The Hoover Dam (U.S.)           

by Zhong Zheng

09/25/2012

[September 25, 2012, Princeton]

CEG hosts a second Tuesday lunch! Bin Guo led a discussion on hydropower development in China.

Bin started by showing two famous examples: the Three Gorges Dam in China and the Hoover Dam in the States. Then she briefly introduced the mechanism, and the three main parts of a hydro plant: an electric plant where the electricity is produced; a dam that can be opened or closed to control water flow; and a reservoir where water can be stored.

Bin also provided some important numbers telling people how big a role is hydropower in the national energy system: ~9% for US, and ~7% for China, in total power supply. People also discussed the environmental effects of a hydropower plant, and also the frontiers of research in this field.

Dr. Alicia Kahn from Chevron also attended the CEG lunch discussion as a guest.

Dr. Kahn providing comments. From left to right: Hao Chen, Zhong Zheng, Nicolas Lefevre-Marton, Dr. Alicia Kahn (Guest, Chevron), Ting Tan, Kuo Liao, Yong Yan, Jing Du, Guest, Bin Guo, Hang Deng, Yuan Hu. (Photo provided by Ruoming Peng. Thanks!)