Hydropower Calculator
Estimate electricity generation from a hydropower installation based on water flow rate and head height.
输出功率
1,250.8 kW
Power Output vs Water Flow Rate
公式
## How to Calculate Hydropower Output Hydropower converts the potential energy of falling water into electricity. ### Formula **Power (kW) = Flow Rate (m3/s) * Head (m) * 9.81 * Efficiency** **Annual Energy = Power * 8,760 hours * Availability Factor** - **Flow rate**: Volume of water passing through the turbine per second - **Head**: Vertical drop from intake to turbine - **Efficiency**: Modern turbines achieve 85-93%
计算示例
A hydropower site with 5 m3/s flow, 30m head, 85% turbine efficiency, 90% availability.
- 01Power: 5 * 30 * 9.81 * 0.85 = 1,250.8 kW
- 02Annual energy: 1,250.8 * 8,760 * 0.90 / 1,000 = 9,857 MWh
- 03Homes powered: 9,857 / 10.5 = 939 homes
常见问题
What is head in hydropower?
Head is the vertical distance water falls from the intake to the turbine. Higher head means more potential energy. Run-of-river systems have low head; dam-based systems can have high head.
Is hydropower truly renewable?
Yes, hydropower uses the natural water cycle. However, large dams can impact ecosystems, fish migration, and sediment flow. Run-of-river systems have less environmental impact.
What is the capacity factor of hydropower?
Hydropower has very high capacity factors of 40-60% for conventional dams and up to 90% for some run-of-river installations, much higher than wind or solar.