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Hydro Energy
Hydro-electricity is the production of electricity using the gravitational potential energy of rainwater as it drains back to the oceans. Hydro-electric power stations are usually associated with water storage schemes to ensure that a reliable supply of electricity can be generated whenever required. Water from the dam is released to flow through a water turbine. As the water loses height, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which turns the turbine. The turbine then turns a generator, which converts kinetic energy to electricity.
Hydro-electric power is most suited to regions of high rainfall and mountainous terrain. As Western Australia is relatively flat and dry, there is not a great potential for hydro-electricity. However, there are two hydro-electric power plants in Western Australia.
Wellington hydro-electric plant
The Wellington Dam is situated near Collie in the south-west of WA. A hydro-electric power station was built in the 1950s and was recently put under care and maintenance.
It has an installed generating capacity of 2 megawatts (MW) using water from the dam.
Ord River hydro electricity scheme
A 30MW hydro-electric power station at the Ord River Dam on Lake Argyle, 80km south of Kununurra, was completed in April 1996. The project also involved the construction of 132kV transmission lines to Argyle Diamond Mine (to the south) and Kununurra (to the north). The privately owned station supplies power to the Argyle Diamond Mine and to Horizon Power.