Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroelectricity

A micro-hydroelectric power station. Image credit abc.net.au

Advantages

• Renewable energy source.
• Cheap to maintain as water-transports itself to plants.
• Very clean energy source.
• Easy to use.
• Very versatile, that is many uses.
• Large lakes are multi-purpose can also be used for tourism, recreation, sport, irrigation, fishing water supply among others.
• Urbanization is enhanced as industrial towns grow at or close to HEP stations.
• Cools and provides moisture to local environment.

Disadvantages

• The world’s best sites are already used only a few good remaining good sites.
• Expensive to build, for example the James Bay scheme in Canada cost US$50 billion.
• Large lakes cause crustal instability for example Lake Kariba.
• Downstream from the lake, aquatic life is destroyed as little water gets there.
• Silt supply downstream is cut off, affecting agriculture negatively.
• Siltation’s cuts short the lifespan of an HEP plant.
• Settlements are destroyed by flooding of lakes as well as roads, rails and other infrastructure, therefore resettlement must occur.
• Large areas of land suitable of agriculture and settlement are taken up.
• Water-borne diseases such as bilharzia, malaria and river blindness multiply from the stagnant water.
• Tension between nations increase due to trapping of water and silt by one country.
• Cannot power motor vehicles.

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page