How do hydroelectric power stations produce electricity?
Hydroelectric plants usually run a relatively low RPM turbine (600 – 900 RPM, versus 2100 – 3600 for other plants), and have a relatively low generating capacity (many will be less than 10 megawatts from a turbine, versus 50 – 100 for geothermal, up to 500 -700 for nuclear or fuel burning). Their advantage is that they can generate electricity so long as the river is supplying water, without needing to burn fuel, and without the emissions that other plants would give off.
