Hydropower Vs. Solar Power Advantages
POSTED ON 0CT 16 2011 BY CTECH52.BLOGSPOT.COM
by Tom Gresham, Demand Media
Hydropower plants are a popular renewable energy outlet.
Both hydropower and solar power are energy sources that do
not consume limited resources but instead take advantage of renewable
ones -- water for hydropower and the sun for solar power -- using them
to generate energy without eliminating them from other uses. Neither
hydropower nor solar power creates significant pollution or waste.
Hydropower is much more widely used, accounting for about 6 percent of
the energy supply in the United States in 2008 (see References 2).
Reliability
Hydropower is a more reliable source of energy than
solar power because it has a steady supply of power, while solar power
is an intermittent energy source with periods of time when the energy
supply is interrupted, such as at night and on overcast days. For a
large-scale solar power project to work, it needs a supplemental energy
supply to serve as a backup source and to help when demand is high and
supply low. (See References 5, page 12)
Financial and Environmental Cost
Hydropower is the least expensive source of
renewable energy in the United States, including solar power
(see References 2). Hydropower creates greater environmental impacts than solar energy, however. In particular, hydropower requires the damming of the rivers and streams that serve as sources of water, affecting animal, fish and plant habitats. (See References 6) Solar power, on the other hand, has a limited environmental impact, largely comprising the energy costs of manufacturing the solar power systems (see References 3, pages 1-2).
(see References 2). Hydropower creates greater environmental impacts than solar energy, however. In particular, hydropower requires the damming of the rivers and streams that serve as sources of water, affecting animal, fish and plant habitats. (See References 6) Solar power, on the other hand, has a limited environmental impact, largely comprising the energy costs of manufacturing the solar power systems (see References 3, pages 1-2).
Mobility and Flexibility
Hydropower is not a viable power source for small,
portable devices the way solar power is. Solar power can serve as a
primary power source for a watch, flashlight or calculator because the
sun is more easily accessible for mobile devices than water sources;
photovoltaic panels that conduct the sun's energy can be quite small
(see References 1). Hydropower's use of turbines and a water source
makes it an ill match for small, mobile devices that demand flexibility.
Alternative Uses
Hydropower installations can offer a range of
benefits beyond energy production, unlike solar power arrangements. In
particular, making the reservoirs that impoundment hydropower facilities
create available to the public can create central recreation resources
for a community. These reservoirs provide clean bodies of fresh water
that provide ideal spots for activities such as swimming, boating and
fishing. In addition, the reservoirs can improve the local water supply,
including strengthening agricultural irrigation efforts and aiding
flood protection efforts. (See References 4, page 318)
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References
- U.S. Department of Energy: Solar
- U.S. Department of Energy: Hydropower Technologies
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory: What is the Energy Payback for PV?; January 2004
- "Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century, Volume 1"; L. Berga; 2006
- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Power Resources Office: Relamation: Managing Power in the West: Hydroelectric Power; July 2005
- U.S. Energy Information Administration; Hydroelectric; March 2011
About the Author
Tom Gresham is a freelance writer and public relations specialist
who has been writing professionally since 1999. His articles have
appeared in "The Washington Post," "Virginia Magazine," "Vermont
Magazine," "Adirondack Life" and the "Southern Arts Journal," among
other publications. He graduated from the University of Virginia.
Photo Credits
- Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
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