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hydropower energy benefits and drawbacks essay paper
hydropower as an alternative source of energy
hydropower energy benefits and drawbacks essay paper
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Since the invention of electricity, mankind has found many ways to generate electricity by using different energy sources. Energy sources can be classified into two main types which is renewable and non renewable or finite energy (Twidella, & Weir, 1985). According to Twindella and Weir (1985) renewable energy is defined as energy that has sustainable sources and can be found in the natural environment. This means that the energy sources can be generated on its own without any human interference (Twidella & Weir, 1985). Examples of renewable energy sources are solar energy, wind energy and hydro energy. Non-renewable energy or known as finite energy is defined as energy that is idle and needs an interference to activate the energy to generate electricity (Twidell & Weir, 1985). Examples of finite energy are nuclear energy and fossil fuels.
Renewable energy is a wide topic to cover so we will narrow it down to one that is widely used which is hydropower. Twidella and Weir (1985) explained that the word hydro-power is restricted to the generation of shaft power through falling water (p.182). Basically, water that is in the dam has a high potential energy. When the water is falling through the shaft the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and when the turbine moves through the force of the water it generates electricity (Darling, n.d). There are four types of hydro-power plants which are conventional hydro-power plant, pump storage power plant, tidal power plants and depression power plant (Dandekar & Sharma, 1983). According to Dandekar and Sharma (1983) Conventional power plants are those that make use of the normal flow of water to generate electricity, while Pump storage plant work like a conventional power ...
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... resources. London, Great Britain: E. & F.N.Spoon Ltd.
Water projects. (n.d). Pros and cons. Retrieved from http://drake.marin.k12.ca.us/stuwork/rockwater/Upload%20this%20doc--dams%20and%20hydropower%20report/pros%20and%20cons.html
Ricky (2008, Sept 13). Components of Nuclear Power Plant – Control Rods. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/2724.aspx
Delgano, A. (2009, Feb 9). Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power. Retrieved from http://www.bukisa.com/articles/31724_advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nuclear-power
Khemani, H. (2009, Oct 11). Disadvantages of hydroelectric power plants: part-2. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/environment/renewable-energy/articles/7730.aspx
Cost of solar penels, (2011, January 1). Cost of solar penels. Retrieved from http://www.solarpanelinfo.com/solar-panels/solar-panel-cost.php
After World War II, nuclear power became the world’s shining energy hope. Technically it is produced when neutrons split the nucleus of uranium atoms releasing heat which is used to boil water and produce the steam that drives a plant’s turbines. Nuclear...
Hydro power is one of many examples of alternative energy source. Hydro power is producing energy by moving
Renewable energy includes: solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, hydropower, ocean energy, hydrogen/fuel cells, and green power. Non-renewable energy is known for, crude oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium. Renewable energy is widely known for being great for the environment and helps save the earth. Although, we do use non-renewable energies more then we should.
Angelina Galvis Mr. Mulhearn- Environmental Science May 2014 The Pros and Cons of Water Dams There are approximately 75,000 water dams just in the United States, providing the right amount of water in the right place at the right time. Majority of our world today relies on water dams.
Next, hydro-electricity is electricity produced by moving water, flowing past a turbine connected to a generator (“Hydropower”). According to Nationalgeographic.c...
Around 1894, scientists discovered that by bombarding a radioactive substance with neutrons, a highly powerful energy could be produced. This is ionizing radiation, which is strong enough to rip the electrons from the nucleus of an atom, hence the name “nuclear energy.” over a century later, nuclear substances are harnessed in order to provide energy. However, nuclear energy is not only discussed amongst scientists, but anyone fearing the safety and future of the environments surrounding the area where a nuclear power plant is implemented.
Nuclear Power, The generation of power using highly radiated uranium pellets in fuel rods used to heat up water and run turbines. This is why Congressman Bill Nelson should not support the building of a new nuclear power plant in the state of Florida.
Power plants light up the world that we live in today, and without them the luxury of electricity would not be possible. However, power plants also cause considerable damage to the environment that unfortunately may be irreversible. To fight this, the government has set laws in place, such as the Clean Air Act (CAA, n.d.), to help dramatically reduce the risk of devastating environmental harm as much as possible. This regulates hazardous carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions released into the Earth’s atmosphere (EPA, 2017). Carbon capture technologies assist in fulfilling the legal requirements of the Clean Air Act. By the use of three different methods, oxy-fuel combustion, post-combustion capture, and pre-combustion capture, power plants can
Carbon, Max W. Nuclear Power: Villain or Victim?: Our Most Misunderstood Source of Electricity. Second ed. Madison, WI: Pebble Beach, 1997.
Global warming is an extremely important and troubling aspect of the world’s current situation. This is due to the fact that the majority of the world’s energy production is from non-renewable energy sources, which are energy sources that either can not be naturally replenished or require thousands of years to be restored. Based on our current energy usage growth rates, there are an estimated 100 years left before our natural resource reserves are exhausted. (Non Renewable Natural Resources: How Much Is Left, Environmental Thinker) China alone consumes nearly as much coal as the combined usage of coal from the rest of the world. (US Energy Information Administration, China Consumes Nearly as Much Coal as the Rest of the World Combined) There is visible evidence of this happening with the increasing pollution levels. Carbon Dioxide and Methane pollution levels in the world reached a record high in 2012 and are 260% higher than the pre-industrial levels. (UN: CO2 Pollution Levels at a Record High, John Heilprin) Converting our world into a more renewable energy dependent society is the most advantageous and likely method for preserving our dwindling fossil fuel supply while also protecting the world that we call home.
How exactly does hydropower work, though? As it turns out, dams are the main source of harvesting energy via hydropower. There are about 80,000 dams in the United States, although not all are active producers of power. There are four main types of hydropower facilities, which all require turbines: impoundment, diversion, run-of-river, and pumped storage. Also, there are two main types of hydro turbines: impulse turbines and reaction turbines ("Hydropower…”).
One of the more commonly used forms of renewable energy is wind energy. Wind energy converts the kinetic energy from the blades being rotated by the wind into electricity. The wind rotates the blades, which causes an electric generator to turn, which generates electricity, which runs through power lines, and ultimately reaches your house. There are several types of wind turbine that range from a variety of horizontal to vertical axis. The smaller turbines are used for purposes such as battery charging for backup power, or the p...
The world around us is full of energy sources in several forms. One of the energy source known as fossil fuel, which classified as non-renewable energy source. The other form of energy is derived from natural resources, which are famous as renewable energy source.
Understanding the environment would help you recognise the appropriate energy production system to use. Renewable energy is an alternative natural source to fossil fuels like sunlight, wind and geothermal heat. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels are examples of energy production systems where the conditions of a particular environment has to be taken into account. If a building is located alongside or near
Hydroelectricity is a known renewable energy resource that provides substantial benefits for our wealth, our health, and for our global economy. There are five types of renewable energy we can use on a daily basis throughout our lives, but the most widely installed form of renewable energy is hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is electricity created by converting the kinetic energy of flowing water. Best thing about this source of energy is that it’s timeless and renewable, which means it will never run out, however we had to figure ways to store this energy. In order for them to harness this energy for other people, they had to build generators that convert all the potential energy of rapid moving water into electrical energy. (http://www.ems.psu.edu/~elsworth/courses/cause2003/finalprojects/vikingpaper.pdf)