Hydropower Quiz

What is the main source of renewable power in the U.S.?

• Geothermal power

• Solar power

• Hydropower

• Wind power

How does an impoundment hydropower technology work?

• It channels a portion of a river through a canal or pipe into a turbine and generator system

• It uses the natural flow of the river and usually doesn’t require a large dam

• It stores water in a reservoir and releases it to spin a turbine and generator

• It works like a huge battery to store water during low energy use

What is the purpose of a diversion hydropower technology?

• To store water in a reservoir

• To charge a battery by pumping water back up into a reservoir

• To release water to spin a turbine and generator

• To channel a portion of a river through a canal or pipe into a turbine and generator system

What is the function of pumped storage hydropower?

• To channel a portion of a river through a canal or pipe into a turbine and generator system

• To charge a battery by pumping water back up into a reservoir

• To release water to spin a turbine and generator

• To store water in a reservoir and release it to spin a turbine and generator

What is the Department of Energy doing to upgrade older hydropower facilities?

• Optimizing energy production across whole river systems

• Reducing adverse impacts on fish and their natural habitats

• Increasing the efficiency of the turbines and generators

• Building new dams for power generation

How many dams in the U.S. produce power?

• None of the above

• More than 20%

• Around 10%

• Less than 3%

What is the purpose of fish ladders in hydropower facilities?

• To reduce adverse impacts on fish and their natural habitats

• To store water in a reservoir

• To release water to spin a turbine and generator

• To let fish swim around dams

What is the future outlook for hydropower technology?

• It will become less efficient

• It will have greater production capacity

• It will have no impact on energy production

• It will be phased out in favor of other renewable sources