Advantages and Disadvantages

of Hydropower

Prepared by: Engr. Hafeez ur Rehman

Advantages of hydropower

Renewable
 Hydropower is a fueled by water, so it's a clean fuel source. Hydrop
ower doesn't pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil
fuels, such as coal or natural gas.
 Hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by
the sun, thus it’s a renewable power source.

Long term solution

 Dams are designed to last many decades and so can contribute to
the generation of electricity for many years / decades.
Flexible
 Hydropower is generally available
as needed; engineers can control the flow of water through the tur
bines to produce electricity on demand.
Advantages of
hydropower cont..
Reliable
 Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a
constant rate.
Multi-purpose
 The lake's water can be used for irrigation purposes.
 The build up of water in the lake means that energy can be
stored until needed, when the water is released to produce
electricity.
 The lake that forms behind the dam can be used for water
sports and leisure / pleasure activities. Often large dams
become tourist attractions in their own right.
Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Energy

• Environmental Consequences
 The environmental consequences of hydropower are
related to interferences in nature due to damming of
water, changed water flow and the construction of
roads and power lines.
 Hydroelectric power plants may affect fish is a
complex interaction between numerous physical and
biological factors
 Fish habitats are shaped by physical factors such as
water level, water velocity and shelter opportunities
and access to food. Draining would be completely
devastating to the fish. Beyond this, the amount of
water may have different effects on the fish in a
river, depending on the type and stage of the
lifecycle.
Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Energy cont..

• Expensive
• Building power plants in general is expensive.
Hydroelectric power plants are not an exception
to this. On the other hand, these plants do not
require a lot of workers and maintenance costs
are usually low.
• Droughts
• Electricity generation and energy prices are
directly related to how much water is available. A
drought could potentially affect this.
 Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Energy Cont..
• Limited Reservoirs
• We have already started using up suitable reservoirs
for hydroelectric power plants.
• Floods in Lower Areas.
Local populations in low lying locations can become
victims of floods due to possible strong water
currents that might be released from the dam. More
so, it can affect the livelihood of people living in
these areas. As a result, more people are then forced
to move out to pursue the construction of the dams
needed for generating hydroelectricity.