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Tidal power generation is not as famous as the other conventional methods of power generation like thermal power or hydroelectric power. But it does not imply that they are not useful. In future we will be dependent on tidal power, solar power and wind power for our energy consumptions. Amongst them, tidal power is going to play a strong role as tides are more predictable than the other sources. But to use tidal power to produce electricity is not that easy and is also very expensive. But with the progress of the science, we are sure to find a cheaper and more effective way to generate electricity using tidal power.
The benefits of the tidal power generation are as follows:
1. Resource:
The first most important benefit of the tidal power generation is that the resource which is required for its generation i.e. tidal water is available quite easily and is free of cost. Tidal water which is used to rotate the turbines is available during the tides and both high and low tide water are used for the purpose. The speed of rotation of the turbines depends on the height of the water level and the tidal current velocities. Greater height and stronger velocities helps in more tidal power generation. This helps the tidal power plant to save the expenses which are incurred by the other power plants like nuclear or thermal or hydroelectric for procuring radioactive materials or coals etc.
2. Renewable form of energy
Tidal energy is a renewable form of energy as it is inexhaustible because it is produced from the tides which are caused due to the relative motion of the Sun and the Earth and the Earth and the Moon.
3. Cost effective:
Tidal power plants can be maintained easily and that too without spending much. Moreover, the vertical axis turbines and the offshore turbines are not that much expensive to build.
4. Eco friendly
Tidal power plants are eco friendly. No greenhouse gases or other poisonous gases or other wastes are produced.
5. Tourism
Construction of structures like barrages, turbines and lagoons which are commonly not found becomes a craze for the general public. Hence, a tidal power plant can make a place popular. It can also help to encourage tourism in the neighboring areas. In this way, local people can be helped so that they can improve their economic condition.
Though, there are lots of advantages to tidal power generation there are disadvantages too. So to use the tidal power more effectively for the generation of electricity, it is necessary to overcome some of the major disadvantages. Moreover, care should be taken so that the marine environment does not get badly affected.
It is seen that the construction of power production stations of most of renewable sources of energy are quite costly. Hydro electric power station installations are also very costly.
For hydroelectric power, the initial costs of building are high and the period of construction of dams is long due to the time taken to relocate all the living things originally placed in the site. It also is quite difficult to channelize required amount of water into the dam. But, in the long run it is seen that the cost of production of power is quite cheap, hen calculated on an overall long term basis.
Once the basic structures are built the process becomes quite simple because, water is free and is also a renewable resource.
When compared to the cost of production of other power production is very low, it is almost half when compared to that of power production using coal. Also there are no techno- barriers in hydro power production, because all technologies are quite established.
When the construction of hydroelectric power plant is properly handled a lot of water can be conserved and used up for irrigation and other household uses. This makes the construction of dams multipurpose. It is used as a flood control mechanism also and a reservoir for the associated wetland flora and fauna.
For the multiplication of fishes a ladder system can be provided, thereby making the water stored restore the natural environment of the fishes and other organisms. Thus with one establishment cost many purposes can be solved, along with the conservation of the ecosystem.
The clean energy generated every year offers a valuable alternate for the very polluting and carbon and sulphur di oxide emitting other non renewable sources of energy, and reducing the amount of acid rains.
The viability of hydro electricity can be understood from the fact that more and more countries are increasing the production of electicity from water. 82% of power generated in the US is from hydroelectricity, Japan produces 84% of its energy from water followed by more than 80% in France and 73% in Germany. China, which primarily depends on its large coal deposits, has also started to turn its attention towards hydropower.
Generally the pay back period of hydropower is after 5-8 years, this period onwards the returns are very stable and the maintenance becomes simple. Having a power project in hilly terrains also reduces the cost of construction because, here we can use adjoining hills as a natural barrier for water and construct a structure to control the flow of water alone.
This kind of structure is helpful to restore the agricultural landscape of the area, it broadens the recreational quality and also makes the environment more healthy and picturesque.
Every system, natural or man made has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Depending on the extent of disadvantage the system is exploited further or discarded. Though hydro power has a number of advantages, it also has some disadvantages. Some of the problems faced during the generation of hydroelectricity are given below:
ALTERATION OF SURROUNDING- Generation of hydroelectricity demands a vast area of land to construct dams and the hydro electric power station. To store water in dams, large area has to be evacuated first and then water is let in. This is not an easy job, because such vast barren land is not available in most parts of the world. They are occupied by human beings, plants and animals. All these have to displaced to construct a dam, and trees have to be felled. This causes a large damage to all the flora and fauna of the area, bringing about a destruction of the ecological balance of the place. The food chains of many organisms, micro and macro are also disturbed. This causes serious trouble to these organisms, sometimes causing the extinction of certain species altogether.
CHANGE IN PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF WATER- in the process of generation of hydro power water is used to rotate large turbines, in the process the water is also circulated along with the turbine. During such circulation a number of physical changes occur to the water such as
The rise of temperature of water- the temperature of water increases thus bringing about loss of water due to vaporisation. Decrease in oxygen content- large amount of water is present dissolved in the water. This oxygen is used by the aquatic organisms for their breathing process. Due to rotation the oxygen reduces bringing about reduction of biological oxygen demand for the aquatic organisms. This in turn reduces the number of flora and fauna present in the water. Rotation of water also changes the phosphorus and nitrogen content of water. The carbon content responsible for the temperature maintenance of water increases; this may increase the temperature of the water.
DAMAGE TO AQUATIC LIFE – When dams are constructed in the path of water the life of many plant and animal life in the water is damaged. This is evident in the case of salmon fish. Salmon fish generally migrate upstream to spawn, but due to dam construction they are hindered from travelling upstream. This reduces the population of salmon fish, which in turn affects the population of other animals feeding on salmon fish.
METHANE PRODUCTION – New researches have found that when water is stagnant for long periods of time the plant present in them start decomposing. This decomposition process releases methane, which is a green house gas and has the property of increasing the temperature of Earth.
Use of renewable energy has started gaining more importance in context of green house gas emission, global warming and ozone layer depletion. Also it is seen that the future has to depend on non conventional energy resources because conventional resources are depleting fast and may be extinct soon, so development of alternative resources has become a must.
In future the geothermal energy can be used for the following:
Community heating systems- the heating system can be used to keep a large group of houses hot during winters and hot water can also be passed through pipes to many houses using single connection thus bringing down the cost of establishment.
Production of small and large scale power- hot dry rock system, where water is passed onto dry rock in the deep layers of earth and heating the water for production of electricity. Since cleaner electricity can be produced it can be used in large scale. Small scale and large scale power production for various domestic and industrial use, can be done in the future.
Heating greenhouses- In agriculture greenhouses can be kept warm during cool climate and cool during hot climate using geothermal energy, so that productivity of the plants can be increased and pest and disease attack can be minimised. It is seen that 80% of fuel cost is reduced when geothermal energy is used and also 5-8% of operating cost is reduced.
In aquaculture – the water can be maintained at a constant temperature thus bringing in more productivity and healthier fishes. It also provides cleaner air and water for the fishes.
Industrial uses- In industries such as dehydration of vegetables like garlic and onion and fruits can be done using geothermal energy. In laundry industry hot water can be used, in pasteurisation of milk, gold and other metal mining.
Geothermal energy can also be used in swimming pools and in spas.
It is already seen that commercial use of heating geothermal systems are being used to heat the roads during snow. Pipes, carrying hot water is passed under the roads, which removes the condensed snow on the surface of the road.
More research can be done in context of improving conducting fluids and can be improved so that heat is retained for more time and the quality of energy is improved.
Air coolers and refrigeration- Methods to condense air and cool the air has also been developed. This can be used to bring about cooling systems for larger areas and also to refrigerate food items. Agricultural produce which require large areas under refrigeration can also be brought about.
With so many perspective uses of geothermal energy, the future is quite bright.
Renewable source
Hydropower or the stored power of water is a renewable source of energy. It can be produced in large quantities from the water available on the surface of earth. Since water does not get over when used once, they because it is being cycled in the atmosphere, lithosphere and the hydrosphere in the form of steam, water and ice the energy can be produced for any long period of time. It is also of importance that the water does not become wasted when used for power production, and can be used after that for our other uses like irrigation, and house hold works.
Non- polluting
Being a clean source of energy production hydropower is a non polluting source of energy. There is very less to no emissions of carbon and other effluents which may be harmful to the environment. Also, the production of power with water enhances the water cycle there by using water in all its forms. Waste water from other industries can be treated and used for power production; this enhances the water use efficiency. This is also very helpful to reduce water pollution because if used like this the polluted effluent might have been disposed off in other larger water bodies or the ocean. Ocean water can also be desalinised and used for the production of power.
Abundant
75% of earth’s surface is surrounded by water. It is available in abundance on the earth. Hence, the usage can be maximum and can produce large amount of power.
The abundance also makes it possible to be used to collect it in higher altitudes and use its potential and kinetic energies. The usage of desalinised ocean water nowadays has increased the possibility of producing more power because, the amount of water present in seas and oceans is enormous.
Low cost of production
Compared to other sources of renewable sources, production of hydroelectricity is cheaper. The per capita cost of production of hydro electric power is very low and is quite affordable by developed and developing countries. In the power production processes of other renewable and non renewable sources of energy, a huge sum of money is spent on the research of the process of power production. Since hydroelectric power production is quite established, more research is not that required. Purchase of input like that of coal is not necessary too, because water is present indigenously and even much money is not required to transport it to far off places. Also, water stored in a high altitude can be used to generate power in more one power station on different altitudes so that cost of the construction of dams can be minimised.
Established power generating procedures
Since hydropower is the most exploited source of power generation, and is being used from time immemorial, the procedures and mechanism of power generation in hydro electricity is quite established. So, extra research is not required to establish new projects. Maintenance is also very easy because the instruments are well known and can be done easily.
Hydropower is the power generated from the force of water. When water is stored in a dam or a pool, it has a large amount of potential energy, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy when the water is made to flow from a higher altitude to a lower altitude. This kinetic energy can be harnessed by letting them to rotate large turbines and producing electricity. It is the oldest known power that is produced. Man has been using water and its many forms in all the different ways possible. He has harnessed the power of water and its various forms as below
Waterwheels
The natural flow of water in rivers, streams etc, can be used to rotated the wheels of power houses. This was the first form in which the energy of water was used. The power produced from this was used to run power mills in older days.
Hydroelectricity
Electricity is produced by allowing water stored in higher altitude to flow from a height to a lower area. Turbines are kept in its path. The water turns the turbine owing to the high kinetic energy which is converted from the potential energy possessed by it during its stance in a higher altitude. The turning of turbine produces electricity. This is one of oldest renewable source of electricity and is still in use. The production of electricity is cheaper than that of other renewable and non renewable electricity production. It is also possible to take water from one dam to different power stations thereby using water at different levels of altitude to produce electricity.
Electricity produced from running water
Water running in rivers, streams and oceans, which are not stored, is used to turn turbine to produce electricity. This is similar to that of water wheels only difference is that the turbine is more equipped to take more water in pockets in the turbine that can hold water in it during rotation. This increases the weight of the turbine thereby requiring more force to turn it, thus generating higher amount of power in the process.
Tidal power
Due to the moon’s gravity the water in oceans tend to rise once in 15 days, a large amount of energy is produced during this movement of such a large mass of water both horizontally and vertically. This energy is tapped as in hydroelectricity and electricity is produced. This is called the tidal energy.
When energy is produced from the horizontal movement of tide it is called tidal power and when energy is produced during the vertical movement, it is called the tidal stream power.
Vortex power
V shaped vortices are produced at rocky surfaces of water, the energy at these points the very high because water passes through the narrow mouth of the vortex into the broader are. The electricity produced from these places are called vortex power.
Wave power
Waves, which move due to force of wind, have a lot of inherent energy in them. This is tapped and is used to produce electricity. The power is used to turn the turbine which in turn produces electricity.
The earth absorbs more than 30% of the sun’s heat radiation incident in it in the form of infra red rays. This heat is captured and stored by it in its various components like the surface and underground water, rocks and other minerals and elements present in its different layers. This energy can be tapped and used for various purposes in our homes. Some of the common usage of geothermal energy in our homes, are given below.
We can use the heat generated from the earth’s surface for keeping our homes warm and cosy. This is very useful during extreme heat or extreme cold weather which is a commonly endured by many countries. We can use the geothermal energy of the earth, by tapping the heat using various different techniques.
The basic technique includes passing a geothermal fluid through a pipe into the crust of the earth, and absorbing the heat tapped there, this heated fluid is then passed through the pipe into the house thus conducting the heat into the house. The pipe used can be of metal or non metal, depending on the heat conducting fluid that we are using inside the pipe.
The fluid in the pipe is circulated through the pipe in cycles, bringing in cooler fluid and taking out warm fluid to transfer it on to the required place. Such pipes can be used in two different methods – geothermal heat pumps and geoexchange energy wells.
When the earth is used as source of heat the pipe brings heat into the house and when the earth is used as sink heat is taken from the house making it cool. The cycle can continue until we require and the energy required for running this cycle is also very low. Thus pollution free heaters as well non carbon emitting coolers can be obtained.
It is also observed that the cost of operation for such system is meagre compared to the electric room heaters and air conditioners used at present.
Another use of geothermal energy is by using dry steam in the pipes that are circulated in the house. The heated steam can be used to heat and cool the house. This heated steam can also be used to turn turbines to produce electricity to run electrical appliances of the house and also light the house. It can also be used to keep any greenhouse of the house warm. Dry steam can be used for cooking also. We can use dry steam to dry washed clothes during winter and rainy seasons.
When we use water in the pipes the heated water can be used directly to take bath, as we use solar water heaters, cook and also run turbines to produce electricity. The hot water also can be used directly to wash clothes, and in dishwasher.
Cooling systems can be used in refrigeration of different food items also. They can also be used during summer to keep the house cool.
It has been observed that the energy thus produced does not emit unwanted gases and is renewable.
The connection can be kept online 97% of the time without thinking of wastage as the wastage is minimal.
Geothermal Energy is the energy obtained from the heat stored in the deep layers of earth’s crust. It is a renewable energy and does not produce any harmful effluents as in the case of other fossil fuels. Its abundance and reliability make it more considerable for future power production. We can group the utility of geothermal energy into three- power production, ground source heat pump and use of derived heat.
The basic principle involved in tapping geothermal energy is that the heat from the deeper layers of the earth’s crust is brought to the surface layers by conduction of heat. The major resources of geothermal energy are the hot water springs found on the surface, the deeper rock surfaces and also the deeper molten magma.
We can classify the power production using geothermal energy into dry steam technology, flash steam technology and binary cycle system depending upon the medium used to transfer energy namely, dry steam hot water and geothermal fluid respectively.
Economically, geothermal energy has two phases, phase one involves the installation of the power plant, wherein as in the case of other renewable resources’ power plant the cost is quite high. This cost is due to the following factors:
1. Cost of land- large area of land is required for erecting various power production equipments, and also for drilling the land so as to reach the deeper layers to conduct the heat present there.
2. Cost of drilling- the land has to be drilled to a depth of at least 100 feet. It is done as that done in the petroleum pumps, because the basically the aim is to drill deep holes in earth.
3. Installation of machinery- various machinery, like driller, large pipes carrying the medium like steam or water , and other machines have to be installed for power production.
4. Cost of operation- these are the daily expenses. Operation involves the daily running of the machines, payment for workers, cost of inputs, etc,.The cost of electricity required to generate geothermal power is lesser compared to that of others like hydro electricity.
5. Cost of maintenance- every machine has a wear and tear and has got to be maintained for long periods. This does proves to take up a small percentage of the cost of production.
It is seen that the cost of production of power using coal is only US$ 0.02, but there is a large amount spent on the measures to minimise the pollution effects it causes, this expenditure brings the total cost of power to around US$ 2. This is very high as compared to geothermal energy.
The initial cost for the installation appears to be high in the case of geothermic power, but when compared to the charges of per capita power production using coal US$ 2, it is very less and rounds up to only $0.03 USD. It is seen that extra research to treat the effluents or to reduce pollution etc, are not required when we use geothermal energy. Also the long term uses are many such as- low to no effluent production, uses local energy so that import of raw material of any kind is not required, and also it is greenhouse friendly.
Geothermal energy is the energy produced by the heat within the surface of the earth. The innermost part of the earth produces an outrageous amount of heat. This heat is then transferred to the mantle, the layer of rocks that surrounds the innermost part of the earth. Due to excessive heat, this rock melts into magma, the molten rock. Molten rocks collect water and trap them to create columns or reserves which are called geothermal reservoir. By tapping into this geothermal reservoir, the resulting hot water and steam can now be used as energy for power generations purposes.
Geothermal energy produces little or no emissions at all. Steam plants use the hot water and extremely hot steam to power a turbine that supplies a generator directly called dry steam or they can lessen the very high-pressure and temperature of water to produce steam called flash steam. There may be a release with negligible amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur.
Geothermal power plants, once built, cost only very little to maintain and operate. They can be used as a direct heat source. Power can be generated by pumping water through hot rocks. Geothermal power plants have a very slight environmental impact. Geothermal energy system uses its capability to transfer heat. It only uses the abundant heat energy that is trapped below the earth’s surface.
There is no need to use crude oil to power up geothermal power plants which may contribute to air pollution. Geothermal energy systems are the most cost effective and most environmentally clean. After a short span of time, a geothermal power plant can raise funds more than enough to maintain and operate itself.
Underground heat pumps use pipes underneath the frost line to distribute a coolant through a cycle of compression and evaporation between two heat exchangers. One heat exchanger absorbs heat and evaporates at low pressure while a compressor presses the coolant vapor at high pressure to another coil where the coolant condenses and emits the heat. Heat pumps can perform in both directions- heating and cooling. Energy cost savings heat pumps are valuable.
However, geothermal sources are not always accessible. The hot rocks and water availability must be within drilling range. Geothermal sites may run out of steam because there is a tendency for temperatures to drop low. When there is a hot rock mismanagement, the water used may cool the rocks.
Furthermore, geothermal sources can also bring about harmful gases and minerals. Drillings into the ground can also cause earthquakes when water is pumped into the holes.
And last but not the least, several places which one may think as a potential site for a geothermal power plant, there is not much guarantee that it will yield enough energy to recover the amount of capital used for the construction and operation of the said power plant.
Basically, geothermal energy means heat from the earth. From the Greek word geo which means earth and the word thermo which means heat. Geothermal energy is energy which comes from the heat of the Earth. A massive amount of heat originates due to the chemical reactions which take place in the innermost part of the Earth. This heat build ups has a temperature as high as 9000 degrees Fahrenheit, and this outrageous heat can be utilized to produce energy.
Geothermal energy is a natural resource in abundant supply; it can be extracted from the earth’s ground. With the use of a geothermal heat pump system, and with the earth’s ability to store heat in the ground water, a heating and air conditioning system can be operated. Based on the constant underground temperatures, this heating and air conditioning systems can be operated. Due to this constant underground temperature, geothermal power plants can be work on any weather condition.
Geothermal energy has been used since time immemorial. The procedures used to utilize geothermal energy have always been comparably simple with that of other energy procedures, and the integral parts used are ordinary to everyone. The idea of using extreme hot water from the Earth's magma layers may seem too technical, but once you have drawn water from this resource, it would be easy to maintain it already and use it as a continual power source.
It is one of the most renewable forms of energy being used nowadays. Geothermal power plants can be operated by using only the abundance of heat energy that has been trapped in the earth’s underground. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are the most effective systems available and they are the most environmental - friendly and cost-effective conditioning system you can find. They can last longer than many traditional heating and cooling systems. In a span of few years of installation, they can be able to provide for its maintenance.
Geothermal energy consists of water which can be found below the surface. This energy comes from the earth's heat found below its surface. The crust of the earth is primarily the outcome of the past existence of many volcanoes and voluminous magma that failed to erupt but rather cooled below the surface. In addition, the innermost part of the earth has high temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit that remain constant throughout the year.
This becomes an ideal source of heat which could be utilized for various purposes. These resources consist of the shallow ground, hot water and hot rock below the surface of the earth and the molten rock or magma deep down the surface of the earth. This magma becomes lava when it reaches the surface of the earth. There are two main categories of geothermal resources. The resources with high temperatures are found in the volcanic regions and the other which is of low and moderate temperatures are found in all the continents of the world. The resources with high temperatures are often used in power production.
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