Hydro Power Breakthrough?

This put a smile on my face. It’s a hydro power concept that proposes to scoop water out of a river, (somehow) lift it vertically upwards, and then recoup some of that energy, as gravity brings the water back into the river.

I suppose all it’s missing is one simple device, an anti-gravity machine at the front end.  I read about that in school, 55 years ago.  Seriously.  It’s part of the Danny Dunn series.