Question 12 Marks
Explain the differences using the points in the brackets:
(availability, environment-friendliness,advantages and drawbacks)
Hydel power and power from geothermal source
(availability, environment-friendliness,advantages and drawbacks)
Hydel power and power from geothermal source
Answer
View full question & answer→| Points | Hydel power | Power from geothermal sources |
| Availability | (i) Obtained from the kinetic energy of running water which is easily available. | (i) Underground heat is utilized to generate power and it is inexhaustible. |
| Environment-friendliness | (i) Does not cause any degradation of the environment. | (i) It is an exhaustible energy resource that causes minimum pollution. |
| Advantages | (i) Reuse of water is possible. Easy availability of water in most places. Energy generation is pollution-free. | (i) If used on a large scale and more efficiently it may reduce global warming. |
| Disadvantages | (i) When water is not available it can’t produce electricity. (ii) Humans, flora, and fauna may lose natural habitat when hydel power plants are set up. | (i) Only a few sites have the potential to establish geothermal power plants. (ii) High installation cost is involved. (iii) The energy generation capacity is too small. |