advantage and disadvantage of thermal power plant and hydro power plant
Answers
disadvantages of thermal power plant
1) The running cost for a thermal power station is comparatively high due to fuel,maintenance etc.
2) Large amount of smoke causes air pollution.The thermal power station is responsible for Global warming.
Advantages:-
Coal thermal power plant provide the cheapest electricity worldwide.
They form the backbone of grid as they provide stable output and are more reliable than renewable sources that tend to fluctuate.
Coal/lignite/peat is readily available all over the world.
The technology for thermal power plant is easily accessible and well established not like other sources like nuclear, solar thermal, Geothermal etc.
Requires less land per Megawatt with respect to Hydro, Solar, Wind etc.
advantages of hydro power plant
Hydropower is fueled by water, so it's a clean fuel source, meaning it won't pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.
Hydroelectric power is a domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce their own energy without being reliant on international fuel sources.
disadvantages
Fish populations can be impacted if fish cannot migrate upstream past impoundment
dams to spawning grounds or if they cannot migrate downstream to the ocean. Upstream fish passage can be aided using fish ladders or elevators, or by trapping
and hauling the fish upstream by truck. Downstream fish passage is aided by
diverting fish from turbine intakes using screens or racks or even underwater lights
and sounds, and by maintaining a minimum spill flow past the turbine.
Hydropower can impact water quality and flow. Hydropower plants can cause low
dissolved oxygen levels in the water, a problem that is harmful to riparian
(riverbank) habitats and is addressed using various aeration techniques, which
oxygenate the water. Maintaining minimum flows of water downstream of a
hydropower installation is also critical for the survival of riparian habitats.
Hydropower plants can be impacted by drought. When water is not available, the
hydropower plants can't produce electricity.
New hydropower facilities impact the local environment and may compete with other
uses for the land. Those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity
generation. Humans, flora, and fauna may lose their natural habitat.
The energy generated through hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, making it a renewable power source, making it a more reliable and affordable source than fossil fuels that are rapidly being depleted.
Impoundment hydropower creates reservoirs that offer a variety of recreational opportunities, notably fishing, swimming, and boating. Most water power installations are required to provide some public access to the reservoir to allow the public to take advantage of these opportunities.
Some hydropower facilities can quickly go from zero power to maximum output. Because hydropower plants can generate power to the grid immediately, they provide essential back-up power during major electricity outages or disruptions.
In addition to a sustainable fuel source, hydropower efforts produce a number of benefits, such as flood control, irrigation, and water supply.
Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of undesirable heat to water thereby making it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life. Thermal pollution may also cause significant departures from nor activities of aquatic communities.