Forms of Renewables & Info

last minute ftw

Wind Power - Pros

• Produces no greenhouse gasses during operation

• Widely available, esp. offshore

• UK Hornsea Project One can power over 1 million homes

Wind Power - Cons

• Visual and noise pollution

• Bird and bat collision risks

• Intermittent generation depending on wind avaliability

Wind Power - Cost

£1.3 - 1.5 million per MW

Wind Power - Sustainability

Yes, sustainable in the long term if environmental impacts are mitigated thanks to low maintenance after setup

Wave Power - Pros

• High energy density

• Predictable, consistent energy

• Minimal land use

Wave Power - Cons

• Still in early development

• Risk to marine life and navigation

• Limited suitable locations

Wave Power - Costs

£3 - 4 million per MW

Wave Power - Sustainability

Potentially yes - must be deployed sensitively, but high costs and impact limits use currently

Tidal Power - Pros

• Predictable energy source with low emissions

• Long infrastructure lifespan (120 years)

• Can help with flood protection

Tidal Power - Cons

• High construction costs

• May disrupt tidal ecosystems and sediment transport

Tidal Power - Cost

£3.5 - 6 million per MW

Tidal Power - Sustainability

Yes, long term - once built offers clean power indefinitely but environments must be managed.

Hydroelectric - Pros

• Reliable ‘base-load’ power

• Reservoirs can store energy, such as the Dinorwig Power Station in Wales

Hydroelectric - Cons

• Ecosystem distruption, e.g. fish migration

• Limited by suitable terrain

• Can cause flooding of land

Hydroelectric - Cost

£1.5 - 2 million per MW

Hydroelectric - Sustainability

Yes in the right locations - has a long lifespan but must use technology such as fish ladders to be environmentally sustainable

Biomass - Pros

• Can use waste materials

• Provides consistent power unlike wind/solar

• Co-firing possible in old coal plants like Drax power plant

Biomass - Cons

• Releases CO2 (though lower than fossil fuels)

• Can compete with food crops for field space and cause deforestation if unmanaged

Biomass - Cost

£0.5 - 1 million per MW

Biomass - Sustainability

Conditionally sustainable: if sourced from waste or sustainably grown crops. Unsustainable if it leads to land misuse

Hydrogen Fuel Cell - Pros

• Zero emissions at point of use

• Can power transport and remote areas

• High energy conversion efficiency

Hydrogen Fuel Cell - Cons

• Most hydrogen today comes from fossil fuels (grey hydrogen)

• Storage and transport are difficult

Hydrogen Fuel Cell - Cost

£4 - 6 million per MW

Hydrogen Fuel Cell - Sustainability

Yes - if hydrogen is produced via electrolysis using renewable energy. Grey hydrogen is NOT sustainable

Solar - Pros

• No emissions

• Suitable for households or smaller scale farms

• Good for sunny regions in southern England

Solar - Cons

• Intermittent - only works with sunlight

• Needs large space for large-scale production, v. land intensive

Solar - Cost

£0.7 - 1 million per MW

Solar - Sustainability

Yes - low emissions and long panel lifespan (25 - 30 years), however recycling of panels and land use are key concerns