Advantages and Disadvantages of Electricity Generation

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electricity Generation

Effects Caused by the Generation of Electricity
Table summarises the generation of electricity, the advantages and disadvantages of various energy resources.

Energy resourceGeneration of electricityAdvantagesDisadvantages
HydroPotential energy of the water stored In a dam changes to kinetic energy to drive turbines
  • Renewable energy
  • Water is freely available in large quantities
  • Clean and does not pollute the environment
  • Water stored in dams can be used to irrigate farms and for human consumption
  • Dams can be used to control floods
  • Building of dams upsets the balance of the ecosystem
  • Not suitable in areas where natural disasters such as earthquakes may occur
  • Not suitable in flat and dry regions
Oil and natural gas

The burning of oil or natural gas produces high pressure steam that is used to drive turbines

  • At present still available in large quantities
  • Can be transported to the location where it is to be used
  • Non-renewable energy
  • Discharges harmful gases that pollute the environment
  • High cost
  • Cost depends on political factors
CoalCoal is burned and the heat energy is used to produce high pressure steam
  • Plenty of resources available for up to 200 years
  • Can be transported to the location where it is to be used
  • Non-renewable energy
  • Discharges harmful gases that pollute the environment
NuclearEnergy from nuclear fission is used to produce high pressure steam to drive turbines at nuclear power stations
  • Have high energy density – a small amount can release a large quantity of energy
  • Minimum discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
  • Vast reserves of nuclear fuel such as uranium spread evenly throughout the world
  • Reactor in nuclear power stations can be used to produce useful radioisotopes to be used in industry, medicine and agriculture
  • High cost of designing and building nuclear power station
  • Waste in the form of used fuel rods which are very hot and highly radioactive
  • Hot water discharged causes thermal pollution to the environment
  • Risk of accidents which may lead to the leakage of large amounts of radioactive substances to the environment
  • Nuclear fuel could be enriched and used to produce weapons of mass destruction
BiomassHeat energy from the burning of biomass is used to generate electricity
  • Renewable energy
  • Liquid biofuels from biomass are lead-free and sulphur-free
  • Reduces problem of disposal of organic waste
  • Requires large storage space far from human population if the biomass is animal dung or sewage
SolarSolar cells or panels convert the energy from sunlight to electrical energy
  • Renewable energy
  • Freely available
  • Clean and does not pollute the environment
  • Requires very large space to collect sufficient energy
  • Lower efficiency in the generation of electricity
  • Intensity of sunlight is dependent on seasonal changes, climate and latitude of the region
WindKinetic energy of the wind drives turbines
  • Renewable energy
  • Clean and does not pollute the environment
  • Suitable at isolated places such as mountainous regions and islands
  • Many windmills are needed which cover a large area
  • Generates high level of noise
  • Spoils the natural beauty of the region

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