Hydro-electricity, waves and tides

How does hydro-electric power work?

How does hydro-electric power work?

Requires the flooding of. valley by building a big dam. Water is allowed out through turbines

What are the positives of hydro-electric power?

• Can provide a immediate response to increase in demand for electricity

• Minimal running costs

• Great for small scale electricity in remote areas

• No fuel costs

What are the negatives of hydroelectric power?

• Big impact on environment: rotting veg, release of methane and carbon dioxide, loss of habitat

• Ugly when they dry up

• Not reliable in times of drought

• High initial costs

How is wave powered energy produced?

Uses lots of small wave powered turbines around the coast. The waves move the turbines that are connected to a generator

What are the positives of wave energy?

• no pollution

• No fuel costs

• Minimal running costs

• useful to small islands

What are the negatives of wave energy?

• disturbed the sea bed and marine habitats

• ruins the view

• hazard to boats

• Unreliable because tides die down with the wind

• High initial costs

• Cab’t provide energy on a large scale

What is a tide barrage?

big dams built across river estuaries with turbines in them

How does a tide barrage work?

As the tide comes in, it fills up the estuary, the water is then allowed out through the turbines at a controlled speed

How are tides produced?

By the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon

What are the positives of using tidal energy?

• No pollution

• Reliable: always be tides at similar heights twice a day

• no fuel costs

• minimal running costs

• can generate a significant amount of power

What are the negatives of using tidal energy?

• preventing free access for boats

• spoiling the view

• altering the habitat

• The height of the wave isn’t always the same which can effect the amount of energy produced

• Initial costs are moderately high