First, it is important to explain what hydropower is. Also referred to as water power and hydraulic power, hydropower uses the energy found in moving water to create power. Hydroelectricity then, is electricity that is produced by hydropower.There are currently four ways that hydroelectricity is used: conventional, pumped-storage, run-of-the-river, and tide. With a conventional hydroelectric station, the potential energy of dammed water operates a wind turbine and generator. Pumped-storage pumps water from a lower reservoir to one at a higher altitude, and thus, stores energy in the form of water.The remaining two systems use natural processes; the tide uses the movement of tides, whereas run-of-the-river stations use the way a river flows and drops in height.No matter which form is used, hydroelectricity is currently the most widely used type of renewable energy.
