Comparing Renewable Energy Types

Hydro-electric power (HEP) advantages

• little pollution

• dams reduce risk of flooding & water shortages

• lakes used for water sports

Hydro-electric power (HEP) disadvantages

• expensive to build

• floods large areas

• fish can’t migrate easily upstream

Solar advantages

• no pollution

• can be used in remote areas

• easy to install

Solar disadvantages

• expensive to set up

• needs lots of panels

• energy only produced in daylight hours

Wind farms advantages

• little pollution

• safe

• land beneath can be used for other things

Wind farms disadvantages

• wind doesn’t always blow

• noise pollution

Biomass advantages

• uses things we might throw away

• won’t run out

• cheap to make energy

Biomass disadvantages

• releases greenhouse gases

• biomass crops can take up land for food crops

• growing biomass crops takes a lot of land

Geothermal advantages

• free

• little pollution

• constant supply

Geothermal disadvantages

• only found in certain locations

• risk of earthquakes & volcanoes

• sulphuric gases sometimes given off

Wave or tidal energy advantages

• waves are free

• tides can be timed — regular supply

• little pollution

Wave or tidal energy disadvantages

• wave energy expensive & hard to transport

• barrages can affect habitats

• affects shipping