Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of

electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most
widely used form of renewable energy, accounting for 16 percent of global electricity generation 3,427
terawatt-hours of electricity production in 2010,
[1]
and is expected to increase about 3.1% each year for
the next 25 years.
Advantages of Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric does not "use" water, all of the water is returned to its source of origin. Hydroelectric
power can be created 24/7 indefinitely assuming that the body of water it is utilizing never runs dry. It is
also another absolutely clean source of energy. The power plants, once in place, do not create any waste
byproducts in their conversion. Dams constructed can also shut their gates and conserve the water for
use when power is in higher demand.
Disadvantages of Hydroelectric
Like all power plants, hydroelectric plants are very expensive to build, and must be built to a very high
standard. The high cost means that plants must operate for a long time to become profitable. The
creation of dams can also create flooding of land, which means natural envrionment and the natural
habitat of animals, and even people, may be destroyed.
The building of dams for hydroelectric power can also cause a lot of water access problems. The creation
of a dam in one location may mean that those down river no longer have control of water flow. This can
create controversy in places where neighboring countries share a water supply.
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy
that determines the temperature of matter. The geothermal energy of the Earth's crustoriginates from
the original formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of minerals (80%).
Disavantages of geothermal
Availability - The availability of geothermal energy that is capable of feeding geothermal power stations
is limited. This intense energy source is often only available in countries where geothermal activity is at
its peak, mainly tectonic/volcanic regions such as Iceland.
Significant Investment Required - A significant investment is often required prior to building a
geothermal power station. Geological surveys have to be undertaken to ensure the location is suitable
for geothermal electricity production before any potential installation work can go ahead. It's often
costly to transport any required materials to remote locations where there is sufficient geothermal
activity.
Harmful Gas Potential - Geothermal power stations have the potential to release harmful gases into the
air. Toxic gases exist deep beneath the ground in various regions and can sometimes be released via the
infrastructure used by geothermal power stations. Most modern geothermal power plants have systems
and procedures in places to deal with these harmful gases.
Localised Supply - As geothermal is trapped beneath our feet, we cannot extract, store and transport
this energy source to other countries as we do with fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. Geothermal
energy has to be used at source to generate electricity, thus providing a supply of electricity for the
electrical grid system of only the source country.
The Steam Can Stop - Geothermal power stations have the potential to cool the rocks beneath them
buried deep under the ground. If the rocks are cooled via too much water flowing into the well, they will
no longer be able to produce the steam required to turn a generator, thus rendering a site useless and
resulting in significant losses for any company making use of geothermal energy at that location.
Visual Pollution - Geothermal power stations, as with many other power station designs can be unsightly
and provide visual pollution. Networks of pipe systems have to be utilised for production purposes and
many people are opposed to the sight of these.
Advantages of geothermal
Environmentally Friendly - Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that's highly
environmentally friendly. Little disruption is made to the environment as a result of the various
processes that are used to harness this energy source in order to provide electricity. Few chemicals and
pollutants feature in geothermal electricity production.
Highly Efficient - Geothermal energy is highly efficient and can be used to provide electricity in select
areas or even to provide heating for our homes and business on a much wider scale via the use of
ground source heat pumps.
Cost Effective - As geothermal power stations are relatively small and less complex than large fossil fuel
alternatives, they are highly cost effective, especially when they are placed in areas of high
geological/tectonic activity where magma is closer to the earth's crust when compared with other
locations.
Job Creation - The introduction of geothermal energy systems on both an industrial and domestic scale
has helped to boost jobs in many different countries. This is a key advantage for areas that may have
already been experiencing job shortages.
Land Value - Another advantage of geothermal energy and tied into the cost effectiveness of this energy
source is land value. Geothermal power stations are often placed in areas of high geological activity
where land values may be low due to obvious reasons. This helps to provide cost savings for energy
companies that wish to make use of geothermal activity.
Almost Infinite - Although geothermal activity in a particular area is actually finite, this is likely to be
available for anywhere between 5,000 and 1,000,000 years. This huge time scale means geothermal
energy is almost infinite and will be able to long live out many fossil fuel alternatives.
Always On - As long as geothermal activity is present in a particular region, this energy source will always
be on and will be fairly constant. This means that unlike solar, wind, wave and tidal alternatives,
geothermal energy can provide continuous electricity production whatever the weather.
Very Quiet - Another significant advantage of geothermal energy is how quiet it can be. Geothermal
energy is the electric car of power stations and is likely to provide little noise pollution to nearby
residents.
Solar energy
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun harnessed using a range of ever-evolving
technologies such as solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity, solar
architecture and artificial photosynthesis.
Disadvantages Of Solar Energy
1. Initial Cost : The initial cost of purchasing and installing solar panels always become the first
disadvantage when the subject of comes up. Although subsidy programs, tax initiatives and rebate
incentives are given by government to promote the use of solar panels we are still way behind in making
full and efficient use of solar energy. As new technologies emerge, the cost of solar panels is likely to
decrease and then we can see an increase in the use of solar cells to generate electricity.
2. Location : The location of solar panels is of major importance in the generation of electricity. Areas
which remains mostly cloudy and foggy will produce electricity but at a reduced rate and may require
more panels to generate enough electricity for your home. Houses which are covered by trees,
landscapes or other buildings may not be suitable enough to produce solar power.
3. Pollution : Most of the photovoltaic panels are made up of silicon and other toxic metals like
mercury, lead and cadmium. Pollution in the environment can also degrade the quality and efficiency of
photovoltaic cells. New innovative technologies can overcome the worst of these effects.
4. Inefficiency : Since not all the light from the sun is absorbed by the solar panels therefore most solar
panels have a 40% efficiency rate which means 60% of the sunlight gets wasted and is not harnessed.
New emerging technologies however have increased the rate of efficiency of solar panels from 40 to
80% and on the downside have increased the cost of solar panels as well.
5. Reliability : Unlike other renewable source which can also be operated during night, solar panels
prove to be useless during night which means you have to depend on the local utility grid to draw power
in the night. Else you can buy solar batteries to store excess power which you can later utilize in the
night.
6. Installation area : For home users, a solar energy installation may not require huge space but for big
companies, a large area is required for the system to be efficient in providing a source of electricity.
Advantages of Solar energy
1. No Pollution : Solar energy is non-polluting, clean, reliable and renewable source of electricity. It
does not pollute the air by releasing harmful gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide.
Solar energy does not require and fuel and thus avoid the problems of transportation of fuel or the
storage of radioactive waste.
2. Long lasting solar cells : Solar cells make no noise at all and there are no moving parts in solar cells
which makes them long lasting and require very little maintenance. Solar energy provides cost effective
solutions to energy problems where there is no electricity at all.
3. Renewable Source : Solar energy is a renewable source of energy and will continue to produce
electricity as long as sun exists. Although solar energy can not be produce during night and cloudy days
but it can be used again and again during day time. Solar energy from sun is consistent and constant
power source and can be used to harness power in remote locations.
4. Low maintenance : Solar cells generally doesnt require any maintenance and run for long time.
More solar panels can be added from time to time when needed. Although, solar panels have initial cost
but there are no recurring costs. Initial cost that is incurred once can be recovered in the long run. Apart
from this, solar panels does not create any noise and does not release offensive smell.
5. Easy Installation : Solar panels are easy to install and does not require any wires, cords or power
sources. Unlike wind and geothermal power stations which require them to be tied with drilling
machines, solar panels does not require them and can be installed on the rooftops which means no new
space is needed and each home or business user can generate their own electricity. Moreover, they can
be installed in distributed fashion which means no large scale installations are needed.
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind
turbines to produce electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water
pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships.
Large wind farms consist of hundreds of individual wind turbines which are connected to the electric
power transmission network. For new constructions, onshore wind is an inexpensive source of
electricity, competitive with or in many places cheaper than fossil fuel plants.
Disadvantages of wind power
1. Noise Disturbances : Though wind energy is non-polluting, the turbines may create a lot of noise. This
alone is the reason that wind farms are not built near residential areas. People who live near-by often
complaint of huge noise that comes from wind turbines.
2. Threat to Wildlife : Due to large scale construction of wind turbines on remote location, it could be a
threat to wild life near by. Few studies have been done by wind turbines to determine the effect of wind
turbines on birds and animals and the evidence is clear that animals see wind turbines as a threat to
their life.
3. Wind Can Never Be Predicted : The main disadvantage of wind energy is that wind can never be
predicted. In areas where large amount of wind is needed or winds strength is too low to support wind
turbine, there solar or geothermal energy could prove to be great alternatives.
4. Suited To Particular Region : Wind turbines are suited to the coastal regions which receive wind
throughout the year to generate power. So, countries that do not have any coastal or hilly areas may not
be able to take any advantage of wind power. The location of a wind power system is crucial, and one
should determine the best possible location for wind turbine in order to capture as much wind as
possible.
5. Visual Impact : Though many people believe that wind turbines actually look nice but majority of
them disagree. People consider wind turbines to have an undesirable experience. Petitions usually
comes in court before any proposed wind farm development but few people think otherwise and feel
they should be kept in tact for everyone to enjoy its beauty.
Advantages of wind power
1. Renewable Energy : Wind energy in itself is a source of renewable energy which means it can be
produced again and again since it is available in plenty. It is cleanest form of renewable energy and is
currently used many leading developed and developing nations to fulfill their demand for electricity.
2. Reduces Fossil Fuels Consumption : Dependence on the fossil fuels could be reduced to much
extent if it is adopted on the much wider scale by all the countries across the globe. It could be answer
to the ever increasing demand for petroleum and gas products. Apart from this, it can also help to curb
harmful gas emissions which are the major source of global warming.
3. Less Air and Water Pollution : Wind energy doesnt pollute at all. It is that form of energy that will
exist till the time sun exists. It does not destroy the environment or release toxic gases. Wind
turbines are mostly found in coastal areas, open plain and gaps in mountains where the wind is reliable,
strong and steady. An ideal location would have a near constant flow of non-turbulent wind throughout
the year, with a minimum likelihood of sudden powerful bursts of wind.
4. Initial Cost : The cost of producing wind energy has come down steadily over the last few years. The
main cost is the installation of wind turbines. Moreover the land used to install wind turbines can also
be used for agriculture purpose. Also, when combine with solar power, it provides cheap, reliable,
steady and great source of energy for the for developed and developing countries.
5. Create Many Jobs : Wind energy on the other hand has created many jobs for the local people. From
installation of wind turbines to maintenance of the area where turbines are located, it has created wide
range of opportunities for the people.
Nuclear power
Nuclear power, or nuclear energy, is the use of exothermic nuclear processes,[1] to generate
useful heat and electricity. The term includes nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion. Presently
the nuclear fission of elements in the actinideseries of the periodic table produce the vast majority of
nuclear energy in the direct service of humankind, with nuclear decayprocesses, primarily in the form
of geothermal energy, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, in niche uses making up the rest.
Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy
1. Radioactive Waste : The waste produced by nuclear reactors needs to be disposed off at a safe
place since they are extremely hazardous and can leak radiations if not stored properly. Such kind of
waste emits radiations from tens to hundreds of years. The storage of radioactive waste has been major
bottleneck for the expansion of nuclear programs. The nuclear wastes contain radio isotopes with long
half-lives. This means that the radio isotopes stay in the atmosphere in some form or the other. These
reactive radicals make the sand or the water contaminated. It is known as mixed waste. The mixed
wastes cause hazardous chemical reactions and leads to dangerous complications. The radioactive
wastes are usually buried under sand and are known as vitrification. But these wastes can be used to
make nuclear weapons.
2. Nuclear Accidents : While so many new technologies have been put in place to make sure that
such disaster dont happen again like the ones Chernobyl or more recently Fukushima but the risk
associated with them are relatively high. Even small radiation leaks can cause devastating effects. Some
of the symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. People who work at nuclear power
plants and live near those areas are at high risk of facing nuclear radiations, if it happens.
3. Nuclear Radiation : There are power reactors called breeders. They produce plutonium. It is an
element which is not found in the nature however it is a fissionable element. It is a by-product of the
chain reaction and is very harmful if introduced in the nature. It is primarily used to produce nuclear
weapons. Most likely, it is named as dirty bomb.
Advantages of Nuclear Energy
1. Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions : As per the reports in 1998, it has been calculated the
emission of the greenhouse gas has reduced for nearly half due to the popularity in the use of nuclear
power. Nuclear energy by far has the lowest impact on the environment since it does not releases any
gases like carbon dioxide, methane which are largely responsible for greenhouse effect. There is no
adverse effect on water, land or any habitats due to the use of it. Though some greenhouse gases are
released while transporting fuel or extracting energy from uranium.
2. Powerful and Efficient : The other main advantage of using nuclear energy is that it is very powerful
and efficient than other alternative energy sources. Advancement in technologies has made it more
viable option than others. This is one the reason that many countries are putting huge investments in
nuclear power. At present, a small portion of worlds electricity comes through it.
3. Reliable : Unlike traditional sources of energy like solar and wind which require sun or wind to
produce electricity, nuclear energy can be produced from nuclear power plants even in the cases of
rough weather conditions. They can produce power 24/7 and need to be shut down for maintenance
purposes only.
4. Cheap Electricity : The cost of uranium which is used as a fuel in generating electricity is quite low.
Also, set up costs of nuclear power plants is relatively high while running cost is low. The average life of
nuclear reactor range from 4.-60 years depending upon its usage. These factors when combined make
the cost of producing electricity very low. Even if the cost of uranium rises, the increase in cost of
electricity will be much lower.
5. Low Fuel Cost : The main reason behind the low fuel cost is that it requires little amount of uranium
to produce energy. When a nuclear reaction happens, it releases million times more energy as
compared to traditional sources of energy.