Geothermal and Hydro-electric Power

• Geothermal power


  Uses energy from underground thermal energy stores
• Geothermal power


  • Only possible in volcanic areas where hot rocks lie quite near to the surface
  • Source of much of the energy is the slow decay of various radioactive elements, including uranium, deep inside the Earth
  • Brilliant free energy that's reliable with very few environmental problems
  • Can be used to generate electricity, or to heat buildings directly
• Drawbacks of geothermal energy


  • There aren't very many suitable locations for power plants
  • The cost of building a power plant is often high compared to the amount of energy it produces
• Hydro-electric power


  Transfers energy from the kinetic store of falling water
• Hydro-electric power


  1. Rainwater is caught and allowed out through turbines

  2. Turbines generate electricity
• Hydro-electric power


  • Requires the flooding of a valley by building a big dam
  • No pollution (as such)
  • Big impact on the environment due to the flooding of the valley (rotting vegetation releases methane and carbon dioxide) and possible loss of habitat for some species
  • Reservoirs can look very unsightly when they dry up
  • Putting hydro-electric power stations in remote valleys tends to reduce their impact on humans
  • Can provide an immediate response to an increased demand for electricity
  • No problem with reliability except in times of drought
  • Initial costs are high, but there are no fuel costs and minimal running costs
  • Can be a useful way to generate electricity on a small scale in remote areas
• Geothermal and hydro-electric power are examples of renewable energy resources
• Geothermal and hydro-electric power are more reliable than wind and solar