Hydropower systems have individualized elements, functionally articulated. The assembly of these buildings and installations provide the conversion of the hydraulic energy into electrical energy. The assembly mainly consists of a water intake, a penstock and a power plant.

The water intakes are the elements from a hydropower development where the water is taken from the river (side/bank intakes, tyrolean intakes or Coanda grill intakes) and they also provide the decanting of the water.

The energy carrier, the water, transported through the penstock, is being processed in the turbine and then evicted back into the river through the channel that connects the powerhouse with the river - thus providing an amount of electricity from renewable sources.

The hydro electrical power plants are the simplest installations for obtaining electricity. They capitalize the hydraulic energy of a river section without changing its natural flow.