Is hydroelectric power the best renewable energy source?

Answer 1

I believe that hydroelectric is better. Here are couple of reasons: It is much more reliable and it is much more efficient.

About the more reliable part: With dams, they have a reservoir, so if there is a drought, there is still a flow of electricity. If you relied on solar energy, then what happens if there is cloud coverage? You will not get electricity. Sure, you will have battery backups, but those won't hold out for weeks. There are also more cloudy days than there are droughts.

Now about the more efficient part: Dams are very efficient. They generate electricity by the following procedure (and I am referring to dams that have reservoirs, not run-of-the-river dams): They have a reservoir (in the form of a lake) to feed the dam. Generally, the place for water to go to the turbine is at the bottom of the dam, so you have the force of gravity forcing the water down through the hole. It goes through the hole and turns a turbine, which turns a generator. This is a direct transfer of energy. With photovoltaic (PV) cells, however, light shines one the PV cell, energizing electrons, which in turn go through a crystal, creating an electrical field, generating electricity. According to ehow.com (see bottom of my answer for link), as of 2007, PV cells only collected about 1% of the potential energy, but has been increased to only 30%. That is less than with dams.

The problems with dams are that (these reasons are for dams with reservoirs) they misplace people, they cost a huge amount of money to build, and they trap sediment that could flow downriver. These are reasons that could stop people from building dams, but I think that the advantages to building dams outweigh these disadvantages.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_4963593_what-photovoltaic-cells.HTML

Also, remember, I am just a random person on the internet stating my views, so be sure to check out all of my information, making sure that it is correct, before using it in a paper or something :-)

- ElectroGoofy

Answeri believe no because hydroelectric power is used for water well what happens during droughts when the water is used to help people during the droughts and solar power you can use it all you want except for at night but, it is free. The only problem with the sun is if it something in space goes completely wrong and we don't have the sun any more but in that case wont we just freeze to death... Anywho we use water just as much as we use the sun but we use the water more then the sun now if the sun produced electricity then that would be a different story that is for a whole different question. And remember i am not a scientist i am an 8th grade female with a wide imagination... AWNSERYes it is free and hydropower plants get to full power quicker

Answer 2

Hydroelectric power actually produces real and steady volumes of energy. Wind can only produce electricity when it is blowing, and it is rarely constant. Wind needs to be combined with another form of renewable energy, or a successful way of storing excess energy.

Answer 3

Solar energy is from the sun. Hydroelectric energy is electricity generated from the motion of flowing water. But if you also generate electricity from sunlight, then electricity is electricity.

Answer 4

All renewable energy comes from the sun; Either directly through solar panels, or indirectly through solar energy powering wind, rain and plant growth and one of those powering machines.

In quebec where I live Hydro is the best source of electricity because we have a huge number of waterfalls, and the alloys that go into making solar panels which harvest sunlight directly are expensive.

In many flat regions, solar panels would be the best in spite of their cost because waterfalls are unavailble.

In some small extremely windy places wind-mills are a viable option. In many large places led by retarded government willing to waste public funds wind-mills are built in spite of both Hydro and solar being better.

Answer 5

no