Hydroelectricity

To start I would like to introduce to you the concept of hydroelectricity.  Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy source that produces energy through the use of flowing water.  This energy production is commonly used in the construction of hydroelectric dams.  These dams use the water flowing from the lake into the river as a means to generate power.  As shown above, the water passes through the dam with huge volume and power and spin numerous turbines that power generators.  These generators harvest energy and from here power is sent out to the people. Uganda has constructed two hydroelectric dams in the waters of Lake Victoria.  The most prominent dam is the Nalubaale Hydroelectric Power Station, which as you can see on the map below, was built where Lake Victoria feeds the White Nile.

Nalubaale Dam

The Nalubaale Dam was first though of in 1947 and was finally completed in 1954.  The power from this dams supplies energy to Uganda and stretches as far as some areas of Uganda and Tanzania.  Before the construction of the dam the relationship between Lake Victoria and the White Nile was regulated by a natural rock dam that limited the water flow.  When the lake reached a certain level water would flow over the rock wall and feed the White Nile.  With the construction of the Naluballe Dam the people of Uganda could now manually regulate how much water flowed through the dam to the river.  This did not become a problem until the population increase began demanding more and more power.  With this new power dam the officials began to let more water pass through the dam to create more energy.  The consequences have been that water level of the lake has dropped substantially. Between 2000 and 2006 the water level dropped by at least two meters.  This two meter decrease has huge effects on the wetlands surrounding the lake.  Animals that once made their homes in this area are forces to migrate.  This two meters equates to a loss of 70,000 square kilometers of water.

Location of the Nalubaale Dam

The idea and design of hydroelectric dams is a wonderful way to create a reusable and natural energy source but if used improperly it can create huge problems.  As we see here the water of Lake Victoria are directly affected by the negligent use of the water as a source of power.  The governments controlling the waters of Lake Victoria and the Nile will must act soon and regulate their water usage or they will soon find themselves in a larger problem with no power at all.







All information retrieved from:  http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/hydroelectric-dams-affecting-the-health-of-lake-victoria.html, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5250126, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalubaale_Hydroelectric_Power_Station, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity