Hydropower Glossary
Alternating current (AC)
- Electric current that reverses its direction many times per second; AC current can be lowered or increased, making it suitable for transmission over long distances; most of today’s electricity is AC
- A measure of electric current (similar to describing water volume in litres per minute)
Biodiversity
- Refers to the variety of ecosystems and animal, bird, fish and plant species.
Climate change
- Term used to describe the view that the Earth’s temperature and climate will change, in part, due to the buildup of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
- Material, such as wire or cable, used to carry electricity
- End use of energy and energy sources, such as electrical energy, typically measured in kilowatt-hours; or natural gas, typically measured in thousands of cubic feet or millions of British thermal units, or crude oil and petroleum products, usually measured in litres or barrels.
- The flow of electrons in an electrical conductor. Current is measured in amperes.
Dam
- Barrier constructed to store or divert water for different purposes, including electricity production. Dams are usually made of earth, rock or concrete.
- Electric current that flows in only one direction (as opposed to alternating current). The current supplied from a battery is direct current; early electric distribution systems were DC
- Process to resolve conflicts in mutually beneficial ways, using techniques such as negotiation or third-party mediation instead of public hearings or courts
- A process of moving power at lower voltages from substations to customers
Electric energy
- Power delivered over a period of time; commonly measured in kilowatt-hours (kW-h) or megawatt-hours (MW-h)
- Rate of delivery of electric energy; also a measure of a power plant’s generating capacity or installed capacity; the basic measures are the kilowatt (kW) and megawatt (MW).
- Planning and decision-making tool used by industry and regulators to identify the environmental impacts and costs of proposed energy projects, and potential solutions. Power companies are potentially subject to environmental assessments for new power projects or changes to existing facilities.
Fish ladder
- Series of pools arranged like steps that allow fish to pass upstream over a dam.
- Management of hydro electricity operations to control downstream water flows and their effects.
Generating capacity
- A power plant’s ability to produce a specific amount of electricity at a specific moment in time; measured in kilowatts or megawatts. Also known as installed capacity or nameplate capacity.
- The process of converting different forms of energy — thermal, mechanical, chemical or nuclear — into electricity
- An arrangement of magnets spinning inside a coil of wire to produce electricity.
- A measure of electric power; the equivalent of 1,000 megawatts or 1 million kilowatts
- A measure of electric energy; the equivalent of 1,000 megawatt-hours or I million kilowatt-hours
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The warming of the Earth’s surface caused by the presence of carbon dioxide and other gases, known as greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere that trap the heat of the sun.
- Gases that trap heat near the Earth’s surface. These include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor. These gases occur through natural processes (such as ocean currents, cloud cover, volcanoes) and human activities (such as the burning of fossil fuels).
- Network of high-voltage transmission lines.
Hydropower
- Use of water power to generate electricity. Electricity is produced by using the kinetic energy available in flowing water.
Independent power producer
- A privately owned power generating facility, which may be connected to a regional power system to supply electricity in Canada or for export
- The amount of power that can be generated at a given moment by a power plant. Usually measured in liowatts or megawatts. Actual generation is measured in kilowatt-hours or megawatt-hours.
- A system consisting of two or more individual power systems through tie lines
Joule
- The international unit of energy; energy produced by a power of one watt for one second; the joule is a very small unit (there are 3.6 million joules in a kilowatt-hour)
Kilovolt (kV)
- A measure of electromotive force equivalent to 1,000 volts. Differences in electromotive force drive electric currents.
- A measure of electric power; the equivalent of 1000 watts
- A measure of electric energy; the equivalent of 1,000 watt-hours (If you burn ten 100-watt light bulbs for one hour, they use one kilowatt-hour of electricity). Residential customers are usually charged for electricity based on a rate of cents per kilowatt-hour
Load
- The total amount of electricity required to meet customer demand at any moment
Megawatt (MW)
- A measure of bulk power; the equivalent of 1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts; the unit is generally used to describe the output of a generator
- A measure of electric energy; the equivalent of 1,000 kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours. Megawatt-hours are determined by a plant’s capacity and how long the plant is running. A 1,000-megawatt power plant running at full power for one hour produces 1,000 megawatt-hours (MWhs) of electricity. If the plant runs all day, it produces 24,000 MWhs.
National Energy Board (NEB)
- The federal regulatory agency in Canada that authorizes oil, natural gas, and electricity exports; certifies interprovincial and international pipelines, and designated interprovincial and international power lines; and sets tolls and tariffs for oil and gas pipelines under federal jurisdiction.
- The total generation output (gross generation) minus electricity used to operate generating stations
- Natural resources that cannot be replaced after they have been consumed. This term applies particularly to fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, but also applies to other mineral resources found in the Earth's crust.
Ohm
- A measure of electrical resistance
Particulate matter
- Dust, ash, soot, metals and other solid or liquid particles released into the air. Particulate matter comes from natural sources (such as forest fires and volcanoes) and human sources (such as burning of fossil fuels, dust from mining operations, road dust and wood stoves). Particulate matter can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and other health problems.
- Waterway or device that allows fish to safely pass a dam or hydro plant. Examples include lifts or elevators, locks and screens.
- In electricity transmission, current delivered at a given voltage, measured in watts or kilowatts
- Electric generating facility
- The process of involving all affected parties in the design, planning and operation of a seismic program, an oil or gas well, pipeline, processing plant or other facility.
- Usually intended to mean the interest of the public generally as opposed to the interest of an individual or company.
Renewable energy
- Naturally occurring energy sources that are continually replenished. Examples of renewable energy are wind, solar and water.
- Body of water stored behind a dam.
- Hydro facility that produces power by partially diverting fast-flowing rivers through a turbine set in the river or off to the side. No dam is required as no water is stored. Also known as river run hydroelectricity
Sedimentation
- Buildup of sediment that occurs when materials that are suspended in a river or stream collect behind a barrier such as a dam. This can prevent nutrients from reaching downstream habitats.
- In hydroelectric facilities, the channel used to release excess water without passing it through the turbines.
- People with an interest in industry activities that affect them. They may include nearby landowners, Aboriginal communities, recreational land users, other industries, environmental groups, governments and regulators.
- Change in water quality that occurs when river flow slows due to a dam and colder, oxygen-depleted water sinks to the bottom. If water from lower levels is released to produce electricity, the oxygen-depleted water can change downstream habitat.
- An electrical facility where the voltage of incoming and outgoing circuits is changed and controlled
- Change in water quality that occurs when water passing over a spillway becomes supersaturated with air and higher nitrogen levels. Fish exposed to this gas can be injured or killed when the gas produces bubbles in their bloodstreams. This is called “gas bubble disease” and is similar to “the bends” that can occur in divers.
- Ecosystem condition in which biodiversity, renewability and resource productivity are maintained over time.
- Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (as defined by United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development).
Terawatt
- A measure of electric power, the equivalent of 1,000 gigawatts or 1 billion kilowatts; the unit is generally used to describe generating capacity at national or international levels
- A measure of electric energy; the equivalent of 1,000 gigawatt-hour or 1 billion kilowatt-hours
- An electromagnetic device for changing alternating current (AC) electricity to higher or lower voltages
- The process of moving electric power at high voltages from the generation facility to local communities
- Muddy or unclear water quality caused by suspended sediments.
- A rotary engine that converts the energy of a moving stream of water, steam or gas into mechanical energy. Turbines are classified as hydraulic (water) turbines, steam turbines or gas turbines. Turbine-power generators produce most of the world's electricity. Windmills that generate electicity are known as wind turbines.
Voltage
- A measure of the electric pressure that pushes electric current through a circuit (just as pressure causes water to flow in a pipe); measured in volts or kilovolts
Water management planning
- Decision-making process used by hydro operators, government and other stakeholders to balance different uses of a watershed and support sustainable use of water resources.
- Area draining into a stream or river.
- A measure of electric power; standard light bulbs are rated at 25, 40, 60 or 100 watts