Renewable Energy

Definition

Hydroelectric power

Electricity produced from generators driven by turbines that convert the potential energy of
falling or fast-flowing water into mechanical energy.

By 2020 hydropower produced one-sixth of the world's electricity, about 4500 TWh, which
was more than all other renewable energy combined and more than nuclear power.
Electricity can supply large amounts of low-carbon electricity when needed, making it the
key to many safe and clean electricity grids. With a dam and reservoir it is also a flexible
source of electricity, as the amount produced by the channel can vary up or down in seconds
or minutes to suit the changing energy requirements.

Hydroelectric power represents the largest share of renewable energy in the world and
will likely remain the world’s primary source of renewable power in 2024, according to
the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The countries with the highest growth of hydropower generation are China and Brazil, with
Turkey joining the ranks in recent years.

Advantages

Clean Energy: Hydroelectric energy offers the clear benefit of helping reduce our
dependence on fossil fuel, therefore cutting down global greenhouse gas emissions, and
ultimately aiding the global transition to 100% green and renewable energy.
Since hydroelectric energy relies on water, a natural resource, it is inherently a clean and
renewable source of energy. And because hydroelectric energy largely depends on the
water cycle, hydropower generation is greater in regions with higher precipitation and
rainfall, which occurs mostly in developing countries such as in China, South America and
Africa.

It is Inexpensive
In the long run, hydropower is inexpensive. This may not seem so, as there are high costs
associated with its production, but it is one of the most inexpensive renewable energy
sources over time.

After the necessary infrastructure has been constructed, there’s usually less maintenance
required and upkeep than other forms of energy, and there are many improvements being
made in order to improve how hydropower performs.

It Can Be Used For Irrigation

Other than generating energy, hydroelectric power facilities also offer the benefit of
providing a source of irrigation for crops in the areas they are built. This is true, especially
for areas where droughts are common and rain is scarce. Hydropower reservoirs can also be
used as reliable sources of fresh and clean water.

Reliability: Compared to other forms of renewable energy, such as wind or solar

energy, hydropower is least affected and reliant by the seasons and weather as it is capable
of storing large amounts of water through its dam, creating essentially a water bank in
which people can withdraw when the need arises.

Flexibility: Hydropower plants offer flexibility and security for electricity systems. Many
hydropower plants can ramp their electricity generation up and down very rapidly. At the
same time, it can be stopped and restarted relatively easily to adjust to sudden shifts in
demand or compensate for fluctuations in supply from other electricity sources. It takes less
than 10 minutes to deliver multiple hydro units from cold start to full loading; this is much
faster than nuclear and all fossil fuels.
High value power and Efficiency: it is by far the best-established means of electricity
generation from renewable sources. As per reports The global weighted average capacity
factor of hydropower was at 47% and hydroelectric power generation accounts for 17% of
the world’s electricity, contributing the largest share of electricity from renewable sources.
Indeed, as of 2020, hydropower generates more than all other renewable technologies
combined. The main advantage of conventional hydroelectric dams is that they have their
own energy-efficient low-cost storage for later use as high-value clean electricity. In 2021 the
IEA estimated that "dams for all conventional combined hydropower plants could store a
total of 1,500 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in one full cycle" "which was about 170
times more powerful than international industrial vessels hydropower”.

Suitability of industrial applications : hydroelectric power projects provide public power

networks, some are designed to assist certain industrial businesses. Dedicated hydropower
projects are usually constructed to provide the maximum amount of electricity needed for
aluminium electrolytic plants.

Reduced CO2 footprints: Hydroelectric power generation also boasts a low carbon
footprint. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), hydropower
has a median greenhouse gas emission intensity of 24 gCO₂-eq/kWh over its life-cycle from
natural emissions of freshwater reservoirs and from the construction of dam materials. In
comparison, the median figure for gas is 490 gCO₂-eq/kWh.

It Pairs Very Well With Other Renewable Sources Of Energy

A majority of hydropower plants are storage facilities that store large volumes of water in
reservoirs, and they will mostly contain water stored to pull and generate the power. The
reliance on stored water by hydropower plants means that this technology is reliable and
can provide a stable source of energy and can be paired with solar and wind.
Solar energy and wind power for instance rely on the natural availability of the sun and
wind, and just like any other energy storage system, there are times of low wind, and when
it’s night, the sun does not shine, which limits production.

Hydropower will provide electricity even when wind and solar cannot, making it more
practical and economical as a source of electricity.
Economic Boost: Hydropower projects also boost economic investments in developing
countries, as seen with the“South to South Investment”, a growing phenomenon where
developing countries support the technology and financial transfer of hydropower between
each other. From 2004 to 2012, the trade in equipment and parts of hydropower increased
from less than 10% to approximately 50% of total global trade.

Disadvantages

Ecosystem damage and land loss: Large dams connected to traditional hydroelectric power
stations cause widespread flooding along the river, sometimes destroying rich and
productive forests in plains and river valleys, swamps and plains. Killing dams disrupts river
flow and can damage the environment, and building large dams and dams often involves
removing people and animals.

Drought and water loss by evaporation: Drought and seasonal changes in rainfall can
significantly reduce hydropower. Water may also be lost through evaporation. Pollution and
water shortages: When water flows it has the ability to transport the heaviest particles
downstream. This has a detrimental effect on dams and their power stations, especially
those in rivers or high-density wetlands.

Methane extraction (from reservoirs): Low positive effects are found in tropical areas. In
low-lying areas of rain forest, where part of the forest is required to be immersed, it has
been observed that hydroelectric ponds produce a lot of methane.

Relocation: Another disadvantage of hydroelectric damsis the need to relocate people living
in dams. In 2000, the World Commission on Dams estimated that dams left 40-80 million
people worldwide.

Risks of failure: Due to large conventional dammed hydro facilities hold back large volumes
of water, failures due to poor construction, natural disasters or property damage can be
catastrophic in low-lying areas along rivers and infrastructure.
Disadvantages

1) Hydroelectric Power Plants Can be Affected Adversely By The Environment

Hydropower is a renewable source of energy but there are usually environmental impacts
associated with building the power plants. Most important of all is the pumped storage of
hydropower which can affect the natural flow of the river system.

The effect can disrupt animal migration and bring up issues of water quality for wildlife and
humanity.

For instance, the recent historic low water levels in Lake Powell, an important water body in
the US and a major reservoir on the Colorado River, has threatened the water availability for
the 40 million people and dozens of communities that depend on the River for drinking
water. It has also raised concerns about the impending risk to the Glen Canyon Dam and in
meeting the future demand for hydroelectric power should critical low water levels from
rising temperatures and worsening droughts become more frequent. In other words, while
hydropower is less affected by day-to-day weather, it is certainly impacted by climate
change.

2) The Construction Of Hydropower Facilities Is Expensive

Most hydropower plants are large projects that involve the construction of a reservoir,
power-generating turbines, and building a dam.

These require significant monetary investments. The large hydropower facility will however
be able to provide low-cost electric power for at least 50-100 years after construction and
the upfront costs will more than pay up in the end.

When you combine this with the fact that suitable places for constructing the reservoirs are
becoming rare, it means that the construction costs will rise even further in the future.

3) Hydropower Facilities Rely Largely On Local Hydrology

Hydropower being a reliable energy source is ultimately controlled by precipitation trends
and the weather. However, most of the hydropower energy relies heavily on river water,
and this means that droughts will cause an impact on the overall electric production, which
can impact the capacity of hydroelectricity.

The amount of water available to produce hydroelectric will vary depending on the weather
conditions, and therefore electric production is unreliable.

Global Disputes: Disputes over water rights have also hindered and complicated the
development of new dams slower in recent years. For example, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan
have been unable to resolve a dispute over water rights amid the development of the Grand
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Addis Ababa on the Blue Nile river. The dam, which is set to
become Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant, could generate 6 000 megawatts of
electricity to tens of millions of Ethiopians. But there have been growing concerns over the
water flow of the Nile with the dam, particularly during times of drought. Ongoing
negotiations cover issues include the volume of water and time needed to complete the fill
of the dam.

Likewise, the hydropower dams in China has restricted water flows into the Mekong River,
which is one of the world’s most important water bodies that also flows across Thailand,
Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, and supports 60 million people’s livelihoods and food. Yet a
study has found that the dams have held back large amounts of water during a damaging
drought in downstream countries in 2019 despite China experiencing higher-than-average
water levels upstream.
 Hydropower vs other renewable power sources

The main advantages of hydroelectric power are that it is 100% renewable, it can generate
electricity at any time, day or night, and its operation is generally safe.

However, it is challenging to build hydropower plants because you need to completely dam
up a river. Not many utility companies can afford this, and usually, governments foot the
bill for hydropower plants.

Interestingly, states with a lot of hydropower plants tend to have cheaper electricity costs.
So if states are willing to pay the upfront costs to build hydropower plants, they can reduce
consumers' electric bills.

Solar power is a cheap source of renewable energy but hydroelectric power is more
consistent since water is rushing through the turbines 24/7, versus the sun that only shines
during the day.

While wind power is also a very consistent form of renewable power, wind turbines will
have a higher maintenance cost than hydropower plants because the turbines are larger
and constantly moving, meaning they break down more easily.

As for biofuels, hydropower is superior because once the plant is built and running, the
environmental impacts are less. With biofuels, you need to constantly cut down trees or
plants that will be burned for fuel. But with hydropower, water is plentiful and does not
emit CO2 when powering the plant.

While no power source is perfect, hydropower can provide a good balance of renewable
energy that produces reliable power with limited environmental impacts. To combat climate
change, hydropower will be a necessary part of the U.S. energy mix because it is both
greenhouse gas emissions-free and a relatively simple and reliable way to produce clean
energy.
 Should We Still Invest in Hydroelectric Energy?

There are a multitude of pros and cons of hydroelectric energy, but the short answer is yes.
And in fact, according to Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy
Agency, “hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean electricity, and it needs to be put
squarely back on the energy and climate agenda if countries are serious about meeting their
net zero goals.”

The advantages of hydroelectric power and its role as a non-greenhouse gas emitting energy
source cannot be stressed enough, as the latest and most damning IPCC report warns that
“unless there are immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors,” our chance
to limit global warming to 1.5C is beyond reach. We must halve greenhouse gas emission
from 2019 levels by 2030, and hydro power plants are one important tool to aid the
transition.

In the wake of the global energy security crisis amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine,
hydroelectric energy can also comfortably ramp up and down generation to compensate for
other energy fluctuations as mentioned above, potentially stabilising energy costs.

But first, far stronger policy measures are required around the world to streamline
permitting and ensure project sustainability of hydropower projects, as well as reduce
investment risks. Globally, around half of hydropower’s economically viable potential is
untapped, and with the advancement of knowledge and technology, the negative impact of
constructing these hydroelectric plants – be it on marine biodiversity or human’s access to
water – can possibly be reduced or minimised.
Wind Energy
Wind power is the process of converting the kinetic energy generated
by the movement of wind into electrical energy through the use of wind
turbines. These turbines capture the wind's energy with their blades,
which spin a shaft connected to a generator, thereby producing
electricity. Wind energy sources accounted for nearly 7.33 percent of electricity generation
worldwide in 2022. This was over double the share compared to 2015 values, the year Paris
Agreement was adopted.

Advantages of Wind Power

Renewable and Sustainable and clean source of energy :

Wind power is a renewable resource, meaning

it is inexhaustible and can be harnessed repeatedly without depleting
natural resources.

Unlike fossil fuels, wind energy does not produce

greenhouse gases or other pollutants, making it an environmentally
sustainable. While there are some environmental considerations that come with building
large wind farms, once operational, wind turbines themselves don't require burning any
fossil fuels to operate.

Low Operational Costs:

Once manufactured and installed, wind turbines are rather cheap to maintain. Though it is
an ongoing expense, the revenue from the electricity generated far exceeds the yearly costs,
contributing to the overall cost-effectiveness of
wind power over time. Wind’s levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is lower than many other
renewables and significantly lower than coal and gas. Wind costs just an average of $0.01-
0.02 per kilo-watt hour generated. As technology improves, the cost of wind is dropping. A
2019 study found that the cost of onshore wind had dropped by 27% since 2013, and that
trend is anticipated to continue. In fact, this is a trend that is widely common across the
entire renewables industry. In 2021, renewables officially became the cheapest energy
source on earth. In many markets, it’s now cheaper to build and operate a new wind or solar
farm today than it is to continue to operate an already existing coal plant.

Turbines are an efficient use of land

Although wind turbines are massive, they take up a relatively small amount of land space.
It’s entirely possible to build a wind turbine on a farm and still maintain the agricultural
value of that land.

Energy Independence:

Wind power can help countries reduce their

reliance on imported fossil fuels, enhancing energy security and
reducing vulnerability to global energy market fluctuations. This
independence can be particularly beneficial for countries with limited
natural resources. Denmark is a country that produces electricity exclusively from wind
and has been a leader in wind energy innovation for over a century. In
2020, Denmark and Uruguay generated 61% and 44% of their electricity
from wind and solar, respectively. Denmark is also home to Vestas, the
world's largest wind turbine manufacturer.

Job Creation:

The wind power industry has the potential to create

numerous jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and support
services. This growth can stimulate local economies and provide
employment opportunities in regions that invest in wind energy
infrastructure. In terms of job creation, the wind energy sector is the fastest-growing in the
United States. There are more than 100,000 workers in the field, with the potential to
support more than 600,000 in the coming years.

Scalability: Wind power can be scaled up or down to meet energy

demands. Small-scale wind turbines can provide power to individual
homes or businesses, while large wind farms can supply electricity to
the grid, supporting entire communities or even regions.

Small wind turbines can be connected to the electric grid or stand

alone, making them a good option for rural areas that aren't connected
to the grid. They can also be used in conjunction with battery storage
to provide an uninterruptable power supply. Wind power is a
sustainable and renewable energy source that has a smaller
environmental impact than burning fossil fuels.

The United States has numerous wind farms, particularly

in the Great Plains region, which boasts some of the best wind
resources in the world. States like Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma have
become major producers of wind energy, contributing to the country's
renewable energy portfolio.

Example : Alta Wind Energy Center: Located in California, this is one

of the largest onshore wind farms in the world, contributing
significantly to the state's renewable energy portfolio.
.

Wind energy can provide economic benefits to communities.

Wind projects provide revenue to the communities in which they are located via lease
payments to landowners, state and local tax revenues, and employment. Even a utility-scale
wind turbine has a small footprint, enabling farmers and ranchers who lease their land to
developers to continue growing crops and grazing livestock. As wind energy systems
continue to expand, they provide significant economic benefits. A recent study found that, on
average, wind power installations within the study area and occurring between 2000 and 2008
resulted in an increase in total county-level personal income of approximately $11,000 per
megawatt.

Wind energy can be used in a variety of applications.

Wind turbines can be used in a variety of applications. Utilityscale wind farms can provide
electricity to an entire community while smaller turbines, often described as being used in
“distributed applications,” can be installed at or near a site where the electricity will be used.
Community wind projects include turbines for schools, tribes, municipal utilities, and rural
electric cooperatives. Small wind turbines, alone or as part of a hybrid system, can power
homes, businesses, farms, ranches, and schools. Wind energy can be perfect for remote
applications such as water pumping, ice making, and telecommunications sites, and can
displace diesel fuel in remote communities.

Economic Benefit:

Use of wind power can significantly boost the economy of a country for example: Wind
power is a domestic resource that enables U.S. economic growth. In 2022, wind turbines
operating in all 50 states generated more than 10% of the net total of the country’s energy.
That same year, investments in new wind projects added $20 billion to the U.S. economy.

Disadvantages of Wind Power

Intermittency:

Wind power is inherently intermittent, as it depends on

wind availability, which can be unpredictable. This intermittency can
lead to fluctuations in energy supply, necessitating backup power
sources or energy storage solutions to ensure a consistent energy
supply.

High Initial Costs:

The initial investment for wind power
infrastructure can be high, including costs for site assessment,
turbine manufacturing, transportation, and installation. These upfront
costs can be a barrier for some regions or countries looking to adopt
wind power. The total cost of an average turbine can range from $2.5 million to $4 million,
though large offshore turbines can cost tens of millions. The most powerful 12 MW wind
turbine costs up to $400 million to manufacture and install. Costs for utility-scale wind
turbines can be broken down into three categories: manufacturing, transport and
installation, and operations and maintenance.

Aesthetic and Environmental Impact: Wind turbines can alter the visual
landscape, and some people find them unattractive. Additionally, wind
farms can have environmental impacts, such as noise pollution and
potential threats to wildlife, particularly birds and bats. In Germany the investment in
windpower energy has decreased considerably from 7.3 billion euros to in 2017 to 2.8 billion
euros in 2022. The main resistance is coming as the locals feel it has changed their
landscape and is causing environmental damage. Offshore wind turbines also can
potentially have a negative impact on sea-environments, disrupting fish habitat.

Space Requirements: Wind farms require substantial land or offshore

space, which can be a limiting factor in densely populated or
ecologically sensitive areas. Land use conflicts can arise,
particularly when wind farms are proposed near residential or
protected areas.

Technological and Infrastructure Challenges: Integrating wind power

into existing power grids can be challenging due to the variability of
wind energy. Advances in grid technology and energy storage are
necessary to address these challenges and ensure a stable and reliable
power supply.

Examples of Wind Power Utilisation

Denmark: Denmark is a world leader in wind power, with wind turbines
supplying around 50% of the country's electricity needs. The country
has invested heavily in both onshore and offshore wind farms,
showcasing the potential of wind power to meet a significant portion
of national energy demands.

Example : Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm: Located in the North Sea,
Horns Rev is one of the world's largest offshore wind farms,
contributing significantly to Denmark's renewable energy output.

United States: The United States has numerous wind farms, particularly
in the Great Plains region, which boasts some of the best wind
resources in the world. States like Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma have
become major producers of wind energy, contributing to the country's
renewable energy portfolio.

Example : Alta Wind Energy Center: Located in California, this is one

of the largest onshore wind farms in the world, contributing
significantly to the state's renewable energy portfolio.

China: China leads the world in installed wind power capacity, driven
by the need to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The
country has rapidly expanded its wind power infrastructure, including
large-scale wind farms in Inner Mongolia and offshore projects along
its eastern coast.

Example : Gansu Wind Farm: Also known as the Jiuquan Wind Power Base,
this is one of the largest wind farms in the world, located in Gansu
province. It is a significant part of China's efforts to increase its
renewable energy capacity.
Germany: Germany has made significant strides in wind power as part of
its Energiewende (energy transition) policy. The country has
integrated wind energy into its power grid, with a focus on both
onshore and offshore wind farms, contributing to its goal of phasing
out nuclear and coal power.

Example : Bard Offshore 1: Located in the North Sea, this is Germany's

first commercial offshore wind farm, playing a crucial role in the
country's renewable energy transition.

However, the relatively high cost of construction of wind farms and the unpredictability of
generation remain significant disadvantages of this technology.

In general, wind farm construction costs per megawatt of installed capacity are decreasing
every year due to technical advances in the production of wind turbines — the most expensive
component, which accounts for up to 70-80% of the total investment costs of the project.

According to European statistics, in 2015, each MW of installed capacity for new onshore wind
farms required € 2 million in investment, and each MW of installed capacity for offshore wind
farms cost € 4.5 million.

In 2019, these figures reached 1.3 million euros and 2.3 million euros, respectively, with a clear
trend towards further decline.

According to the results of 2019, Spain became the leader in the construction of new wind
farms, having made the final decisions on the implementation of 28 investment projects with an
average investment of about 1 million for each megawatt of installed capacity.

China boasts the world’s largest capacity for wind energy, totalling just over 288 GW at the
end of 2020 – having added 52 GW of new power during that year, far more than any other
China is the world leader in wind energy, with
country.

over one-quarter of the world’s wind

power capacity.
The country has the world’s largest onshore
windfarm in Gansu Province, built out of the Gobi
Desert.
Large wind turbines built for onshore and offshore wind farms can generate about 2 to 3
MW, while the largest offshore turbines can generate up to 12 MW of electricity. Needless
to say, they’re expensive. While costs can vary, they generally hover around $1 million per
MW.

Is Wind Energy a viable source?

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the average wind turbine in the U.S.
produces around 400,000 kWhs of electricity per month when operating at 33% capacity.
This is enough energy to power 450 homes with the average monthly electricity usage (893
kWhs). The output is calculated at 33% because wind turbines typically cannot convert 100%
of the kinetic energy they harness into electricity—they operate at around 30-50% of their
power efficiency rating.

The most efficient wind turbine on the market is called a three-blade horizontal-axis wind
turbine (three-blade HAWT). Hundreds of thousands of these turbines have been deployed
across the world. In addition to having very efficient blades, these turbines are also
controlled by computers to face the optimal direction to harness the power of the wind, no
matter what direction it is blowing. As technology advances, wind turbines are getting more
efficient, able to convert wind into electricity more effectively.

ne of the major pros of wind energy is that it is relatively cheap to produce. While it can be
expensive to build and install both onshore and offshore wind turbines, the maintenance
and operation costs of generating wind energy is remarkably cheap.

In 2019, the average cost of building and operating a new solar farm was roughly $0.053 per
kilowatt-hour, with the range varying depending on the region between $0.051 and $0.099
according to the Internation Renewable Energy Agency. These prices have dropped by 44%-
78% across different regions and markets since 2010, and that trend is expected to continue
as technology improves and operation costs decline. Just the cost of installing onshore wind
turbines has decreased by hundreds of dollars per kilowatt-hour since 2013. Offshore wind
is typically a bit more expensive per kilowatt-hour due to the higher cost of building these
turbines.

The future of wind energy is bright. Many experts predict that wind energy will be an
abundant and affordable source of energy by 2050. As technology advances, the cost of
installing and operating wind turbines will continue to decrease. At the same time, wind
turbines will also become more efficient, allowing them to convert more wind power into
usable electricity. This means more affordable, cleaner electricity for homeowners and
businesses.

Additionally, technological and scientific advancements can mitigate some of wind energy’s
current disadvantages. Tech innovations have already led to new wind turbine designs that
are less unsightly and, in some cases, can even capture wind indirectly in ways outside of
the wind blowing—such as from the air displaced by a driving a car.

The benefits of the wind industry extend beyond just increasing the amount of renewable
energy generated across the electrical grid too. The wind industry is predicted to
generate 600,000 manufacturing, maintenance, and installation jobs by 2050. Wind energy
also helps stabilize energy prices, and as wind becomes more popular and prevalent, it
should help reduce the occurrences of rate spikes and volatile electricity prices. In summary,
wind is well-positioned to play a crucial role in our renewable energy revolution.

Challenges of Wind Power

 Wind power must compete with other low-cost energy sources. When comparing
the cost of energy associated with new power plants, wind and solar projects are
now more economically competitive than gas, geothermal, coal, or nuclear facilities.
However, wind projects may not be cost-competitive in some locations that are not
windy enough. Next-generation technology, manufacturing improvements, and
a better understanding of wind plant physics can help bring costs down even more.
 Ideal wind sites are often in remote locations. Installation challenges must be
overcome to bring electricity from wind farms to urban areas, where it is needed to
meet demand. Upgrading the nation’s transmission network to connect areas with
abundant wind resources to population centers could significantly reduce the costs
 of expanding land-based wind energy. In addition, offshore wind energy transmission
and grid interconnection capabilities are improving.

 Turbines produce noise and alter visual aesthetics. Wind farms have different
impacts on the environment compared to conventional power plants, but similar
concerns exist over both the noise produced by the turbine blades and the visual
impacts on the landscape.

 Wind plants can impact local wildlife. Although wind projects rank lower than other
energy developments in terms of wildlife impacts, research is still needed
to minimize wind-wildlife interactions. Advancements in technologies, properly siting
wind plants, and ongoing environmental research are working to reduce the impact
of wind turbines on wildlife.

In 2020, the global weighted-average levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from new capacity
additions of onshore wind declined by 13%, compared to 2019. Over the same period, the
LCOE of offshore wind fell by 9% and that of utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) by 7%.