text: how is energy in water converted to electricity?   well, if the energy is potential energy (in other words, the water is on top of a hill), then you can let the water flow down the hill (converted to kinetic energy) and in so doing, pass it through a turbine to create electricity. this is often done with the use of dams. the water is held back in a lake. as the water is realesed through the damn, it turns the turbines.  commonly referred to as hydroelectric power.  side note: if you live near harper's ferry, wv they have an incredible display of the power of water. back before the days of electricity, they hooked a watermill up to a interconected system of pullies and leather straps. through these, they powered an asortment of different machines such as drills and saws. basically, a shop full of power tools with no electricity.