The eLearning Center for B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Overview

Hydropower, also known as hydroelectric power, is a reliable, domestic, emission-free resource that is renewable through the hydrologic cycle and harnesses the natural energy of flowing water to provide clean, fast, flexible electricity generation. Hydropower, one of our nation's most important renewable energy resources, has grown over the last century from 45 hydroelectric facilities in 1886 to more than 2,000 facilities in 50 states and Puerto Rico that contribute approximately 80,000 megawatts (MW) to our nation's electrical capacity. That represents about 10% of our country's electrical generating capability and provides more than 75% of the electricity generated from renewable sources.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten (10) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course will review the hydropower principles, present and future applications, and various design criteria:

  · Enhancement of hydropower performance
  · Safe passage for fish
  · Methods to mitigate water degradation resulting from low oxygen levels in stagnated water
  · Next generation hydropower
  · Integrating wind and hydropower technologies
  · Types and basic design of various turbines

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.



Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).