Energy Source Flashcards
nuclear advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions, flexible locations (reactors can go anywhere)
nuclear disadvantages
amount of
uranium is finite, radioactive waste
hydroelectric advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions,
once the dam is constructed there are very low
costs for maintenance
hydroelectric disadvantages
Restricted to
locations near rivers, periods of drought affect
the amount of electricity that can be generated
solar electricity advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions, no
moving parts so less susceptible to break down
solar electricity disadvantages
mining of rare
minerals, have non-recyclable parts, no electricity
generation at night
hydrogen fuel cells advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions
hydrogen fuel cells disadvantages
Expensive, limited available of places to get
hydrogen fuel
biomass advantages
Relatively easier to switch from fossil fuels to
biomass fuels
biomass disadvantages
Renewable, takes land
and resource use away from food production
wind energy advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions,
once the wind turbines are constructed there are
very low costs for maintenance
wind energy disadvantages
Restricted to windy
locations, periods of less wind affect the amount
of electricity that can be generated
ocean waves and tidal energy advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions,
once constructed there are very low costs for
maintenance
ocean waves and tidal energy disadvantages
restricted to coastal
areas, periods of calm water affect the amount of
electricity that can be generated
geothermal advantages
No air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions,
once constructed there are very low costs for
maintenance, very efficient for heating
