Advantages and Disadvantages of Thermal and Hydroelectric Power Generation

Firepower:

Advantages: mature technology, low cost at present. Low geographic requirements.

Disadvantages: high pollution, dim prospects for sustainable development. High energy consumption and low efficiency.

Hydro:

Pros: long history, very low cost at later stage. No pollution, renewable water energy, large total water energy reserves.

Disadvantages: large investment in fixed assets, high requirements for geographic environment, for example, southwestern China is extremely rich in hydroelectric resources, but the natural environment is poor, difficult to build, and has never been able to utilize.

Extended information:

Generating electricity is through the use of power generation power plant will be hydroelectric energy, fossil fuels, heat, nuclear energy, as well as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy and other energy converted into electricity. At the end of the 20th century, power generation is mostly done by burning fossil fuels, however, fossil fuel resources are not much, and are becoming increasingly depleted, and mankind is now gradually using more renewable energy (hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, ocean energy, etc.) to generate electricity.

The basic principle of hydroelectricity is to use the water level difference, with the water turbine generator to produce electricity, that is, the use of water level energy into the mechanical energy of the water wheel, and then mechanical energy to promote the generator, and get electricity. Scientists use the natural conditions of this water level difference, the effective use of flow engineering and mechanical physics, etc., carefully matched to achieve the highest power generation, for people to use cheap and non-polluting electricity.

Thermal power generation generally refers to the use of oil, coal and natural gas and other fuel combustion heat energy to heat the water, so that the water into a high temperature, high pressure water vapor, and then by the water vapor to promote the generator to generate electricity in the way of the general term. Power plants that use coal, oil or natural gas as fuel are collectively called thermal power plants.

Reference Baidu Encyclopedia: Power Generation