Renewable Energy Sources GCSE Geography

Renewable Energy Sources

HEP

Advantages

• Water is widely available in remote upland areas

• Very Clean

• Cheap Power and Easy to Run

• Reservoirs can be multipurpose –( power, tourism, water supply, irrigation)

Disadvantages

• Resevoirs flood valleys- loss of land and villages

• Areas flooded may be scenic – loss of amenity and habitats

• Problems caused by the build up of silt behind the dam

• Very Expensive to Build

Comments

• Uses fast flowing water to turn turbines which then convert it into electrical energy

Wind Power

Advantages

Very clean, no air pollution

Cheap to run and generally quiet

Disadvantages

• Some people think that turbines are visually polluting

• Wind is not constant and will drop

• Huge areas of turbines are needed to produce much power

Comments

• Widespread use in only few areas – Denmark,California

• Improving with more advanced technology

Solar Power

Advantages

• Cheap to run. Clean and efficient

• No noise or air pollution

Disadvantages

• Less useful in cloudy countries

• Costly to install-high tech

Comments

• Can be used on small scale- not yet feasible for large scale oirduction of power

Tidal Power

Advantages

• Clean and Cheap to run

• Can produce large quantities of electricity

Disadvantages

• Very few sites are suitable

• Affects wildlife habitats in estuary

• Expensive to build

Comments

• Needs high tidal range in a narrow estuary- Severn Estuary a possibility

Geothermal

Advantage

• Clean and Efficient with a contant supply of hot water

Disadvantages

• Some polluting gas produced as by-product

• Only available in geothermal active areas

Comment

• There are many sites around the world – eg. Iceland and Japan