is hydro-electric power renewable?
yes
is thermal-electric power renewable?
no
is nuclear-electric power renewable?
no
how do hydro-electric plants generate energy?
movement of water from high to low reservoirs drives the generator
how do thermal-electric plants generate energy?
steam produced from burning fuel turns the turbine which drives the generator
how do nuclear-electric plants generate energy?
steam produced from the fission of uranium atoms turns the turbine which drives the generator
name 4 advantages to hydro-electric power
- do not have to buy fuel
- does not produce air pollution or carbon dioxide
- uses a renewable resource (flowing water)
- the reservoir can be used for recreation
name 3 advantages to thermal-electric power
- plants can be built where electricity is needed
- fuel is available and cheap to transport = low cost of production
- plants are less expensive to build
name 4 advantages to nuclear-electric power
- plants can be built where electricity is needed
- inexpensive to operate
- canada has an abundance of uranium
- does not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases
name 5 disadvantages to hydro-electric power
- expensive to build plants
- plants are usually far from cities- expensive transmission lines must be built
- dams can cause flooding
- flooding can release harmful chemicals from rock
- the water flow can disrupt the environment
name 4 disadvantages to thermal-electric power
- fuel is expensive
- nonrenewable resources will run out
- creates air pollution and global warming
- can produce gases that cause acid precipitation
name 4 disadvantages to nuclear-electric power
- expensive to build plants
- radioactive fuel is dangerous
- waste from the plant remains dangerous for 100 000 years
- plants must be replaced or rebuilt frequently
