Hydroelectric

Globally, hydropower is the largest source of renewable electricity. And although the International Hydropower Association has identifed the US as having the second-largest installed hydroelectricity capacity in th world, only about 7% of our total energy is produced from hydropower. 

Hydropower dams and projects are large undertakings that take years to complete; however, once in service, such structures can often be used for 50-100 years. Often a dam can recoup the costs of initial construction after just 5-8 years of full generation. To capitalize on this early return on investment, it is important to utilize low maintenance materials to avoid costly shutdowns. 

Moisture protection is of utmost importance in this type of project, where corrosion is a major consideration in the design and production of a dam. Pipes and penstocks are perhaps the most essential elements of a hydroelectric facility, channeling water through the process to create clean energy. These pieces are often large and unwieldy, in addition to being difficult to access; because of these challenges, a durable, lon lasting corrosion protection system is a necessity.

Because hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) performs well in moisture-rich environments, it is an obvious choice for corrosion protection in the construction of hydropower facilities and equipment. Unlike many corrosion protection systems that only protect the outer layer of a pipe, hot-dip galvanizing protects piping from the inside out. As a hollow pipe is lowered into the molten zinc during the galvanizing process, the zinc flows inside the hollow structure, completely covering the inside of the pipe as well as the exterior.