Hydroelectricity is more harmful than everyone’s belief
Hydroelectric power is a kind of energy which is generated by the conversion of the power of falling water through the turbines in a dam. In order to get a strong falling water to push the turbines, water has to be raise to a high level, thus, a reservoir and a dam are need to achieve this purpose. When mentioning hydroelectricity, the first few terms come to us might be clean, green, and renewable energy. It seems to be a popular belief that hydroelectricity is a kind of perfect energy resource that has no impact on the environment and human beings, but in contrast to your belief, hydroelectricity is more harmful than you think to us.
First, Hydroelectric power causes damage to environment. One of the reason if that the constructions of hydroelectric stations cause a loss of land. Hydropower is generated through the force of falling water, damming a stream or river to make a reservoir is the main method to raise its water level. The raising of water level means a large area of land will be flooded, which could include forests, agricultural land, and wildlife habitats. These lands which are around the river are often fertile soil, which are precious resource for the local farmers. A report from Brian Handwerk (2006) point out that, the largest hydropower plant in China whose reservoir is 410 mile long, flooded over 244 square miles, which is almost twice the size of Seattle city. Comparing to other types of power station, none of them will occupy such a large area of land as hydropower does. Power stations like nuclear stations or thermal power station can be relocated in case of cities expansion or in any other situations, and the land can be used again, but for hydropower, it seems to be impossible. Hydroelectric power also affects the wildlife in the aquatic ecosystem. The direct impact is contributed to the turbine in the dam. The dam cuts the river into two parts—upstream and downstream, and the tunnel in which the turbines are installed is the
First, Hydroelectric power causes damage to environment. One of the reason if that the constructions of hydroelectric stations cause a loss of land. Hydropower is generated through the force of falling water, damming a stream or river to make a reservoir is the main method to raise its water level. The raising of water level means a large area of land will be flooded, which could include forests, agricultural land, and wildlife habitats. These lands which are around the river are often fertile soil, which are precious resource for the local farmers. A report from Brian Handwerk (2006) point out that, the largest hydropower plant in China whose reservoir is 410 mile long, flooded over 244 square miles, which is almost twice the size of Seattle city. Comparing to other types of power station, none of them will occupy such a large area of land as hydropower does. Power stations like nuclear stations or thermal power station can be relocated in case of cities expansion or in any other situations, and the land can be used again, but for hydropower, it seems to be impossible. Hydroelectric power also affects the wildlife in the aquatic ecosystem. The direct impact is contributed to the turbine in the dam. The dam cuts the river into two parts—upstream and downstream, and the tunnel in which the turbines are installed is the
References: Handwerk, B. (2006). China 's Three Gorges Dam, by the Numbers. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/060609-gorges-dam.html Xie, P. (2003). Three gorges dam: Risk to ancient fish. Science, 302(5648), 1149-51; author reply 1149-51. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213586368?accountid=1230 Wines, M. (2011). The Three Gorges Dam faces problems involving pollution. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/world/asia/20gorges.html Yardley, J. (2007). Chinese Dam Projects Criticized for Their Human Costs. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/world/asia/19dam.html?pagewanted=all Lafrniere, S. (2009). Possible Link Between Dam and China Quake http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/asia/06quake.html?pagewanted=all