1. Natural resources
Usable hydraulic power is proportional to water flow and head. The use of resources therefore requires knowledge of the river environment.
1.1 Topography and geology
Topography provides precise information on the surface area of the watershed feeding the river, and its altitude, which determines the flow regime. The longitudinal profile of the river is used to locate the dam and diversion structures, so as to optimize the ratio between the length of the diversion structures and the head (L/h) (see the article
The topology of the slopes can be used to locate important structures. A dam is located at a rocky bolt at the outlet of a basin,...
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Natural resources
Environmental impact
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In 2000, 18% of the world's electricity was generated by hydropower. The breakdown of installed hydropower capacity is shown in figure 1 .
In France, 15% of the electricity generated (70 TWh) is hydroelectric. This makes France the leading producer...
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