Solar And Wind Power Plus Other Alternative Energy Sources

April 10, 2009 · Filed Under Solar Power, Wind Power

Alternative energy sources – solar and wind power, among others, have taken more popularity through the years. People are becoming more environmentally conscious, technologically advanced, and more concerned about saving home energy consumption. So what exactly are the advantages and disadvantages of these alternative energy sources?

Solar, Tidal, Hydro, Ocean Thermal, and Geothermal Power: The Pros
• Solar and wind power, among other alternative energy sources, is renewable, always present, and does not give off pollution.

• Hydro and geothermal power sources have proven to have high power efficiency production.

• Geothermal and hydro power sources are known to produce very affordable kw/h rates.

• Ocean thermal and tidal sources of energy can be large sources and therefore can be expected to produce huge amounts of electricity.

Solar, Tidal, Hydro, Ocean Thermal, and Geothermal Power: The Cons
• Low energy efficiency production for solar and wind power systems; they have to be built in grander scales for them to be produce more electricity.

• The power generation systems need to produce energy from these alternative sources usually require high initial investment.

• For stand-alone systems, facilities required to store produced electricity may also cost high and may pose risk.

• Hydro power systems may cause sediment buildup and eradicate endangered species present in the area where the system is operating in. Moreover, hydro and tidal power systems may change the environment.

• Geothermal power is not renewable.

• Wind power systems may prove to be eyesores and noise pollutants.

Hopefully, with evolving technologies, these disadvantages will be eliminated if not reduced so that the use of these alternative energy sources will become more and more popular.

Share and Enjoy: