What are the pros and cons of water energy?

Answer 1

Water as an energy source has been used for thousands of years. The primary example is the grinding of corn. It is a potential source of all our energy needs.

A few of the PROS of water energy

• Wave and tidal energy is a source that is constantly available.
• Tidal turbines are located on the ocean floor - don't obstruct scenery.
• Wave energy plants divert some of the energy away from the shore causing less damage to the shoreline and recreational beaches.
• Wave energy is more efficient than wind energy.
• Geothermal hot springs/geysers and underground reservoirs have a huge potential of "clean" energy for the US.
• Iceland is a prime example of geothermal and hydropower usage.
• New technology has produced hydropower turbines which don't affect fresh-water fish and don't need dams.
• Water energy is clean renewable green energy.
• Once established, the cost stays constant (fixed cost) and the water is free.
• Dams also create recreational areas and fish breeding sites.

A few of the CONS of water energy

• The set-up takes money that the government has not allocated.
• Wave/Tidal turbines - will they affect marine life, if at all.
• Wave converters may break down frequently causing loss of service.
• Hydroelectric power: cost of building dams, flooding upstream, affect on human, plant and animal populations, downstream changes can affect quality of water and its affect on animal/plant life.
• Dams do destroy the previous environment while producing a new one. During the change over, trees will decay emitting greenhouse gases.
• It takes a lot of water to create energy, though scientists are working on new turbines to reduce the amount needed.

its not cheap but ecologic