renewable energy resources

• • bio-fuels are created from plant products or animal feces
  • produce needs like fossil fuels
• advantages (bio-fuel) :

  • carbon neutral
  • reliable - crops do not take long to grow, stored for when needed
• disadvantages (bio-fuel) :

  • cannot respond to immediate energy demands
  • cost to refine bio-fuel is high
  • growing crops for bio-fuel can create less space and water to meet demands of food crops
  • large forests have been cleared to grow bio-fuel - species lose natural habitats, decay and burning od vegetation increases carbon dioxide and methane emissions
• advantages (wind) :

  • no pollution
  • no permanent damage to landscape
  • no fuel costs and minimal running costs
• disadvantages (wind) :

  • spoil view
  • noisy for people nearby
  • turbines stopping when wind stops or is too strong
  • initial costs are high
  • impossible to increass supply when extra demand is needed
• advantages (solar) :

  • can supply energy to products that do not need much energy
  • used in remote places
  • no pollution
  • reliable in sunny countries
  • no running costs
• disadvantages(solar) :

  • cannot increase supply when there is extra demand
  • initial costs are high
  • generate electricity on small scale
• advantages (geothermal) :

  • free energy
  • very little damage to environment
  • very reliable
  • can generate electricity or heat buildings directly
• disadvantages (geothermal) :

  • not many suitable locations for power plants
  • cost of building power plant is high compared to energy production
• advantages (hydro-electricity) :

  • no pollution
  • can provide immediate response for energy demand
  • very reliable
  • no fuel costs and minimal running costs
  • useful to generate electricity on small scale in remote areas
• disadvantages (hydro-electricity):

  • flooding rots vegetation - releases carbion dioxide and methane
  • loss of habitat for species
  • reservoirs look bad when they dry up
  • high initial costs
• advantages (wave power) :

  • no pollution
  • no fuel costs and minimal running costs
  • useful on small islands
• disadvantages (wave power) :

  • disturbance to seabed and habitats of marine animals
  • spoils view
  • hazard to boats
  • unreliable
  • cannot be used on large scale
  • high initial costs
• advantages (tidal) :

  • no pollution
  • reliable
  • no fuel costs and minimal running costs
  • potentialky able to generate large amount of energy
• disadvantages (tidal) :

  • prevent free access to boats
  • spoil view
  • alter habitat of wildlife
  • less energy when there is lower tide
  • high initial costs