Renewable energy Flashcards
Tidal advantages
Predictable
Potentially huge power
Prevention of tidal surge flooding
Tidal disadvantages
Only a limited number of potential sites
Only produces power for a few hours every day
Disruption to shipping.
Disruption to migrating fish
Disruption of coastal ecosystems.
Hydro-electric advantages
Instantly switch on/off power production
Prevents flooding
Prevents droughts
Creates recreational areas/water areas
Hydro-electric disadvantage
Can only be built along suitable rivers
Can require huge rain catchment areas
Can be a source of diplomatic disputes
Can displace people during construction
Can destroy valuable habitat
Silting
Can disrupt migration of fish
Solar PV advantages
No moving parts
No heat produced so should be efficient.
Can be installed in remote places
Easily scalable
Solar PV disadvantages
Only work in sunlight
Not suitable for large power needs
Very expensive capital costs
Fragile
Use rare and environmentally-damaging raw materials.
Solar Thermal advantages
Low tech solution
Existing thermal power station technology
Scaleable
Solar Thermal disadvantages
Needs a lot of space
Transmission costs
Political problems with remote areas.
Only generates when sun is shining
Geothermal advantages
Excess heat produced
Energy available constantly
Geothermal disadvantages
Only practical in an active volcanic area,
Technically difficult
Small scale production
Noisy,
Wind advantages
Can be built in remote regions
The land below turbines can be used to grow crops.
Wind disadvantages
Diffuse energy source
Unreliable and unpredictable
Very susceptible to wind speed
Can be damaged by storms
Expensive to maintain
Difficult to build/transmission costs
Noisy
Spoil the view
Wave
Completely inefficient
Biomass advantages
Carbon neutral over the long term
Can reduce landfill waste
Existing fossil-fuel plants can be converted
Biomass disadvantages
Existing farmland used to grow biofuel
Untouched land is developed for biofuel production
Long time span
