Open the floodgates... Hydroelectricity

An ActewAGL worker looking at ActewAGL's mini-hydroelectric generator.

Do you know that water can be so powerful and constant, it can help create electricity?

Hydroelectricity generators use the energy of moving water to do just that.

For many years humans have used water wheels in rivers to turn machinery that can grind grain or cut wood.

Using the same principle, we now direct flowing water through tunnels that contain turbines. The force of the water turns the turbines to drive electricity generators.

Why is this such a big deal? Because hydroelectric power stations can produce a great deal of electrical energy very cheaply. Australia has a number of hydroelectric plants such as within the Snowy Hydro scheme .

Canberra can also generate some hydroelectricity from a mini-hydro plant that operates at the Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant. It uses the water flowing from Bendora dam to Mount Stromlo to create electricity.