Advantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants
The cheapest energy sources
Even though the initial investment required to build a plant is very high and something of a challenge,
water power is definitely the cheapest source overall in the medium to long term.
Hydropower stations are agile and responsive
Faced with water availability that can change over time, the power stations are actually
extremely flexible. Production systems require a very small amount of energy to start working. In fact,
even a large station can go from offline to maximum power and vice versa within the space of a few
minutes.
Water brings with it enormous energy
The energy potential of hydropower is enormous. The gigantic masses of water found at high
altitudes have a significant amount of gravitational potential energy and even using just a part of it will
provide abundant power.
Production can be tailored to demand
One of the most serious flaws of many renewables is the fact that they do not supply a constant flow of
energy. In the case of hydropower, however, weather and climate variability can be partially offset by
high elevation reservoirs, such as dams. Therefore, what might potentially be a disadvantage now
becomes a strength: the water flow can be easily controlled to suit energy requirements.
Very low indirect emissions
The organic residues that decompose in reservoirs can also be a source of methane, one of the main
greenhouse gasses said emissions were found to be virtually negligible compared to fossil fuels and
almost entirely absent in the more modern stations.
Secondary water flows are suitable for smaller plants
Alongside large stations that use enormous masses of water and operate at different elevations, smaller
hydroelectric plants can also be built to use the existing water flows and infrastructure.
Hydropower as a tool for reclamation...
With water courses contained within pre-established reservoirs, hydropower stations also help
avoid flooding as well as helping to drain marshy land where stagnant water tends to accumulate.
Hydropower stations help the environment
For instance, having more water available in reservoirs means richer vegetation, which in return attracts
more animals and boosts the population in the surrounding area. Furthermore, hydropower stations trap
trees and branches, keeping the waterways clean and, as a result, more navigable.
Station
Community
Capacity
(MW)
Operator
Commissioned
Agus 1
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Marawi, Lanao del Sur
80.00
Agua-Grande
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Pagudpud, Ilocos
Norte
80.00
Ilocos Norte
Electric
Cooperative
1983
Angat Hydro
Electric Power
Plant
Norzagaray, Bulacan
218
National
Power
Corporation
1967
Magat Hydro
Electric Power
Plant
Ramon, Isabela
360
National
Power
Corporation
1982
Agus 6
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Iligan
200.00
Agusan 2
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Damilag, Manolo
Fortich, Bukidnon
1.60
Ambuklao
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Bokod, Benguet
105.00
2011
Lon-oy Hydro
Lon-oy, San Gabriel,
La Union
3.60
1993
Talomo Hydro 2B
Brgy. Mintal, Davao
City
0.30
2005
1994
1953, 1977
First Gen
Corporation
1957
Capacity
(MW)
Station
Community
Operator
Commissioned
Talomo Hydro 3
Brgy. Catalunan
Pequeño, Davao City
1.92
2005
Sabangan Hydro
Sabangan, Mountain
Province
14.00
2015
Linao Cawayan
Mini-Hydro Power
Plant
Oriental Mindoro
3.00
2014
PantabanganMasiway
Hydroelectric
Power Plant
Pantabangan
town, Nueva Ecija
132
1977