Water Energy

1. WaterEnergy Usayd Younis Thomas Hart Jamie Stanger Edward Hill Quick Links: Hydroelectric Tidal Wave

2. Introduction • What do we want to do? We are making a presentation to show the different types of water energy that can be used in exchange for the fossil fuels that are polluting the earth and are soon going to expire. The three types of energy we will be showing are Hydroelectric, Tidal and Wave.

3. Hydroelectric Hydroelectric power is electricity that is supplied by generating energy from falling or streaming water. Hydroelectric power is a so-called renewable energy source. This means that the source, which provides the energy, can be renewed. This is because, unlike non-renewable energy sources such as crude oil, we will not run out of water fully. It can be renewed after we have used it for energy generation.

4. Hydroelectric Pros: Hydropower has a moderate to high amount of useful energy and fairly low operating and maintenance costs. Hydroelectric power plants emit very little heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other air pollutants during operation. They have live spans of two to ten times those of coal and nuclear plants. The dams that are used in the power plants help prevent flooding and supply a regulated flow of irrigation water to the areas below the dam.

5. Hydroelectric Cons: There are some drawbacks to the use of hydroelectric power. A hydroelectric power plant takes up a lot of space and this may cause animal habitats to go lost. Large-scale projects can threaten recreational activities and disrupt the flows of rivers. Due to the presence of dams and reservoirs, fish may not be able to swim to sea and aquatic life may decrease in the area of the hydroelectric power plant.

6. Hydroelectric Political: Hydroelectric power supplies about 20% of the world's electricity, and 6% of its total commercial energy.This is an indication of the total electricity supply by hydroelectric power in several different countries:- 99% in Norway- 75% in New Zealand- 50% in developing countries- 25% in China- 13% in the USA 3,500 jobs – for workers in power stations.

7. Tidal • Tidal power works rather like a hydro-electric scheme, except that the dam is much bigger. • A huge dam (called a "barrage") is built across a river estuary. When the tide goes in and out, the water flows through tunnels in the dam. • The ebb and flow of the tides can be used to turn a turbine, or it can be used to push air through a pipe, which then turns a turbine. Large lock gates, like the ones used on canals, allow ships to pass.

8. Tidal Pros: • Once you've built the dam, tidal power is free. • It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste. • It needs no fuel. • It produces electricity reliably. • Not expensive to maintain. • Tides are totally predictable.

9. Tidal Cons: • Very expensive to build. • Affects a very wide area - the environment is changed for many miles upstream and downstream. Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud flats so that they can feed. • Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out. • There are very few suitable sites for tidal power stations.

10. Tidal Political: The tide moves a huge amount of water twice each day, and harnessing it could provide a great deal of energy - around 20% of Britain's needs. Although the energy supply is reliable and plentiful, converting it into useful electrical power is not easy. There are eight main sites around Britain where tidal power stations could usefully be built, including the Severn, Dee, Solway and Humber estuaries. Only around 20 sites in the world have been identified as possible tidal power stations.

11. Wave There are several methods of getting energy from waves, but one of the most effective works like a swimming pool wave machine in reverse. At a swimming pool, air is blown in and out of a chamber beside the pool, which makes the water outside bob up and down, causing waves. At a wave power station, the waves arriving cause the water in the chamber to rise and fall, which means that air is forced in and out of the hole in the top of the chamber.

12. Wave Pros: • The energy is free - no fuel needed, no waste produced. • Not expensive to operate and maintain. • Can produce a great deal of energy.

13. Wave Cons: • Depends on the waves - sometimes you'll get loads of energy, sometimes nothing. • Needs a suitable site, where waves are consistently strong. • Some designs are noisy. • Must be able to withstand very rough weather.

14. Wave Political: At present, the main stumbling block to deployment of wave energy devices is funding. The Government has a very important role to play if this industry is to be given the chance to fulfil its potential. The capital costs are the problem, as it is hard to get companies to invest in technologies that have not yet been completely proved. Similar to other forms of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the fuel is free for the complete lifetime of the scheme.

15. Conclusion We have shown how these three types of energy can help the world and the environment to develop a healthier environment to stop harming the ozone layer. You have also now learnt how Wave, Tidal and Hydroelectric energy methods work to generate better electricity.