Is Hydro Generated Electricity the Best Way to Generated Electricity and Compare that Between the Twin Turbines - Coursework Example

Alternative Energy Alternatative Energy Table of Contents 1.0 Abstract ………………………………………………………………………… 3 2.0 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………. 4 3.0 Research Plan ………………………………………………………..…………. 4 4.0 Results …………………………………………………………….……………. 5 5.0 Discussion …………………………………………………………………….... 8 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations ……………………….…………………… 11 7.0 References …………………………………………………….……………….. 12 1.0 Abstract With the growing concern, for environmental degradation globally, many countries, as well as the international community seek energy sources that are environmentally friendly and sustainable in terms of low carbon footprint. Every day, world emits carbon dioxide that is released to the atmosphere, adversely affecting the environment and killing biosystems. Due to the increased production of carbon dioxide globally, it has become imperative to replace the current energy generation technologies with better systems that utilize alternative energies that not only perform better, but also do not emit carbon dioxide (Deutch and Lester, 2004). This paper will examine two important alternative energies namely hydro and wind energy, which are essential in the generation of electricity. Through literature review and conducting surveys on electricity production points, the paper will resolve the question of which mode; from the two aforementioned systems of electricity production is the best. It is apparent that while wind turbines are effective in the production of electricity, hydro generation is the most superior electricity production system. This is with regard to aspects such as price, efficiency, availability, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, limitations and social impacts. However, through the integration of the two means of electricity generation, it is highly possible to deal with electricity demands all year round and in the most effective and efficient way. Introduction Unlike conventional electricity production systems, as well as a few new systems that adversely impact the environment by emitting carbon dioxide, alternative energy sources primarily focus on renewable and natural energies that are effective in terms of environmental sustainability as they substantially low levels of emissions. Moreover, these alternative energies provide significant sources of energy for the regular and efficient generation of electricity. Some of the unsustainable energies used in electricity production include fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Hydro, wind and solar energies, on the other hand, are viable sources for electricity production. This paper will provide in-depth information on hydro electricity generation and electricity generation through wind turbines, comparing the two to realize which the best way to generate electricity is. Increased demand for electricity augments the need to find the most effective and sustainable systems of electricity generation. Global demand for electricity grew by 1.8% per annum from the year 1990 to 2004. 3.0 Research Plan Examining the successes and failures of previously established hydro and wind electricity generation plants in the nation and globally, as well, is a viable way of ascertain which of the two production methodologies is the best. The immense coverage of both methodologies in the past provides ample data on the efficacy of hydro and wind turbines in terms of levels of electricity generation that meets peak demand, as well as viable storage strategies. An extensive literature review was performed to collect data useful in making a concise determination of the best electricity generation module. Furthermore, an anonymous online survey was conducted, inviting members of the New Zealand community to give their input of the two methods of electricity generation. Participants were primarily asked to describe their preferred electricity generation method and their reasons, whether they support the concept behind wind farms or hydropower. The purpose of this research is to find which between hydro electricity generation or wind turbine generation methods is the best. Comparison of the two electricity generation methods was based on the following parameters, which were assessed independently. i. Price ii. Efficiency iii. Availability iv. Land use v. Greenhouse gas emissions vi. Limitations vii. Social impacts 4.0 Results i. Price In terms of price, hydro generation of electricity the cheapest electricity generation strategy. Currently, hydroelectricity production costs are as low as one cent for every KWh (kilowatt produced per hour). This low cost is because once the construction of a dam and installation of equipment is done, the energy source that is the flowing water is free. ii. Efficiency The efficiency of an electricity generation module to convert energy from its source into energy is a crucial parameter to ascertain the best electricity generation method. Hydroelectric generation is the most effective electricity generation method because of its capacity to store energy. Water within a reservoir in a hydropower plant is in essence stored energy. iii. Availability Because demand for electricity is unsteady, electricity utility companies must generate sufficient electricity to meet the demands of the populace. Electricity use through electric appliances is primarily high during the day and substantially low at night. Furthermore, the demand for electricity is higher in extremely hot or cold weather conditions through cooling and heating systems respectively. Base load power refers to the minimum electricity that must be generated all the time by electricity utilities. Therefore, the base load power must be cheap and readily available. Hydro generation of electricity meets all these thresholds as it uses readily available fuel supplies (Koch, 2002). While wind and water resources are both easily available from natural phenomena, hydro supplies are always available through concurrent precipitation through a well-established natural water cycle as shown in the following diagram: iv. Land use The suitability of an electricity generation method is also measured by the extent of land used in the generation of electricity. In terms of land use, it is apparent that hydro power plants use up more land than wind farms do. As the following images show, land allocated to wind farms, though massive, can still be used for other purposes such as agricultural practices. Land covered by hydro generation plants such as dams, on the other hand, cannot be put to alternative use such as farming as it is completely immersed in water, but can be used for activities such as irrigation and fishing. v. Greenhouse gas emissions With the advent of global warming and other adverse climatic shifts taking place all over the globe, it is pertinent to adopt electricity generation technologies that emit low or no amounts carbon dioxide and other green house. Wind turbines have relatively higher carbon footprints compared to hydro electricity production equipment. While both electricity generation methods are based on renewable energy sources that is wind and water, they have some degree of green house gas emissions that augment the problem of green house gas emissions across the globe (Dincer, 2000). vi. Social impacts Different electricity generation methods have distinct impacts on the social environment. Public annoyance, noise and visual intrusion are some of the predominant social impacts of electricity generation methods. 5.0 Discussion The cost implication in hydro generation is relatively lower than that of electricity production through wind turbines because, unlike wind turbines, hydroelectric equipments are simple and dependable, requiring low maintenance and repairs owing to their sturdy structures. While the wind is a cost-effective source of alternative energy, wind turbines routinely get damaged by adverse weather conditions such as storms, lightning strikes and extremely high winds. This is primarily because wind turbines are long and thin, meaning they can be easily destroyed, hence require regular maintenance resulting in high costs of electricity. Moreover, wind turbines have high levels of mechanical fatigue failures, which impair their effectiveness in terms of electricity production (Kammen and Pacca, 2004). The effectiveness of wind turbines is also impaired under icy weather conduction, and their size is limited by hub stress (DeCarolis and Keith, 2002). Hydrogenation of electricity is of utmost efficiency as hydropower plants store energy in reservoirs and release it when needed to facilitate electricity production. Typically, during daytime when most people use electricity, water in hydro plants is allowed to flow through the plant to produce electricity, then at night time when electricity demand is low, water is held back in the reservoir. This storage allows for the collection and conservation of water from winter rains for electricity generation during the summer. Furthermore, hydro production allows for water from wet years to be saved for electricity generation during dry years. In order to enhance effectiveness, hydropower plants use pumped storage systems, which facilitate re-use of the same water many times. This technology is used in most electricity utilities. Wind turbines do not have an energy storage system as they must turn to gas or oil-fueled generators during peak demand periods. Furthermore, wind turbines have no systems for storing excessive electricity produced during standard electricity generation periods (Dincer, 1999). Water, which is the primary source of energy n hydro generation of electricity, is always readily and easily accessible in most areas of the nation (Houri, 2006). However, because wind turbines require an excessive amount of wind that is only available in few areas of the nation, electricity generation through wind turbines becomes unfeasible and tedious. The nature of water’s easy accessibility is a prominent advantage in terms of electricity production through hydropower plants. This implies that, in areas that receive sufficient amounts of wind power to turn massive wind turbines, large areas of land have to be set aside to be used as wind farms. Wind farms refer to an area of sufficient wind power where a group of wind turbines is located to generate electricity. Most wind farms cover massive land areas and consist of several hundred wind turbines. Wind farms can either be located on or offshore. The image shown below is an accurate depiction of a wind farm. With regard to land use, both hydro electricity generation plants and wind farms utilize massive areas of land. However, both lands can be subjected to alternative use. For instance, land under wind farms can also be used for agricultural purposes such as farming. In most wind farms across the globe, the spaces between wind turbines are used for crop husbandry among other uses. This augments the value of using wind turbines for electricity generation. Hydro power plants can also be subjected to alternative use such as fish husbandry and irrigation purposes. However, hydro power plants are detrimental as they affect ecosystems. This is because before the establishment of hydro power plants, massive areas of land such as forests have to be cleared to create space for the construction of water reservoirs such as dams. Global electricity production releases more than 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In 2004, for instance, different methods of electricity production emitted nearly 40% of the total green house gas emissions, which was an increment of 53% since the year 1990. This is implicit of the reality of the adverse impact certain electricity generation methods have on the environment. Renewable energy technologies are commonly presumed as deterring greenhouse gas emissions. However, all renewable energy technologies used in electricity generation are not totally neutral in terms of greenhouse gas emission. For example, although wind turbines and equipment used in hydroelectricity generation do not emit carbon dioxide in the course of their operation, there are green house gas emissions linked to the construction, installation, recycling and disposal of all electricity generation systems. However, hydro reservoirs emit green house gases not only during their construction, but also in their operations. This is predominantly as a result of the discomposure of organic materials within the reservoir, especially in anoxic zones in the reservoirs resulting in anaerobic decay that leads to the formation of methane (El-Fadel, Chedid, et al. 2003). The adverse social impacts of wind turbines cannot be underplayed. For instance, wind turbines cause loud noise from the rotation of the blades, as well as the mechanical noise emitted by the gearbox and generator. In addition, according to Wolsink (2007), the main reason behind public annoyance towards wind farms is their visual impact. Through bird strikes, wind turbines also destroy scenic, environmental attributes such as bird populations. Birds are caught between the blades and crushed to death. Hydropower generation plants, on the other hand, provide viable means of flood control and offer sources of water for irrigation and recreational activities. Furthermore, water reservoirs such as dams form major tourist attraction spots. Perhaps the single adverse social impacts of hydro generation plants are the dislocation of communities within flood areas, loss of culturally, archeologically and religiously significant sites. Interview In order to augment the literature search conducted, an interview was conducted with Mr. Ron who is the engineering tutor at Wintec, New Zealand. When asked how hydro power stations affect the aquatic organisms, Ron asserted that Hydro power stations are detrimental to aquatic organisms as they disrupt the organisms’ reproduction cycles. Because most aquatic organisms synchronize their reproductive cycles with flood or rainy seasons when nutrients are carried from the land and dumped in the water, providing nutrients to aquatic organisms, as well as backwaters that offer protection from predators. Therefore, because floods are held back by hydro power reservoirs, the aquatic organisms are deprived off valuable nutrients and hiding grounds. The hydro power plants also limit aquatic organisms’ migration, which is essential to their survival. According to Ron, the costs of maintaining hydro stations are relatively lower than the installation costs. The basic maintenance costs include upgrading plants, especially those with low head capacity to high head, as well as upgrading equipment, i.e. turbines upgrade to using the latest technologies. The estimated cost of maintaining a hydro station is nearly quarter that of installation. Furthermore, refurbishing older plants involves at least a third of the installation costs per new kW produced. The cost of maintaining wind turbines, on the other hand, typically depend on their life. For fairly new turbines, the maintenance cost could be as low as 10-15% of the installation costs; however, the costs may increase to 20-35% by the conclusion of the turbines’ lifetime. Because of the extent of these costs, power companies that own wind turbines often take insurance covers on the turbines. This additional cost also adds to the already bulging cost of maintaining wind turbines. Ron gave the greatest risk factor facing hydro power stations as the risk of reservoir breakage. Because hydro reservoirs used by power stations are primarily located upstream, the risk of reservoir wall breakage due to excessive water causing flooding in surrounding areas is very high. This could spell death for area residents. The expert is adamant that hydro stations can be made more sustainable through better flow control mechanisms, especially during high precipitation seasons. This will reduce the chances of walls breaking and water spilling to the surrounding areas, as well as reducing the costs of repairing broken reservoir walls. 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations The sustainability of electricity generation from wind and hydro energies has been assessed according to seven important benchmarks namely price, efficiency, availability, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, limitations and social impacts. This has explicitly shown that hydro generation of electricity is more superior to use of wind turbines. Hydropower has among others the highest degree of availability, lowest social impact and greatest efficiency. However, in order to achieve optimal results, a viable strategy would be to integrate the two methods as they can complement each other in terms of meeting peak demand and attaining optimal production to meet electricity demands throughout the year through the most efficient way. References DeCarolis, J. and Keith, D. (2002). Is the answer to climate change blowing in the wind? Proceedings of the first International Doctoral Consortium on Technology, Policy, and Management, Delft, The Netherlands. Deutch, J. M. and Lester, R. K. (2004). Making technology work. Applications in energy and the environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dincer, I. (1999). "Environmental impacts of energy." Energy Policy 27: 845-854. Dincer, I. (2000). "Renewable energy and sustainable development: a crucial review." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 4(2): 157-175. El-Fadel, M., Chedid, R. et al. (2003). "Mitigating energy-related GHG emissions through renewable energy." Renewable Energy 28(8): 1257-1276. Houri, A. (2006). "Prospects and challenges of using hydropower for electricity generation." Renewable Energy 31(11): 1686-1697. Kammen, D. M. and Pacca, S. (2004). "Assessing the costs of electricity." Annual Review of Environment and Resources 29: 301-344. Koch, F. H. (2002). "Hydropower--the politics of water and energy: Introduction and overview." Energy Policy 30(14): 1207-1213. Wolsink, M. (2007). "Wind power implementation: The nature of public attitudes: Equity and fairness instead of `backyard motives." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 11(6): 1188-1207. Read More