Hydroelectric Power

Hydroelectric Power

Clyde Dam, Central Otago.

Pros and Cons:

One of the benefits of hydroelectric power is that it is made using a process that doesn't involve the use of greenhouse gases, which is better for the environment. But this doesn't really matter, as building dams has a much greater impact on the environment anyway. 

In New Zealand, where there is enough space for the amount of water needed can be stored, hydroelectricity is consistent and reliable. However, New Zealand has a relatively small water capacity, along with water supplies that can vary immensely each year. Because of this, we need to closely monitor the amount of water we use in hydro-schemes. 

Another disadvantage of hydroelectric dams, is the fact that larger hydroelectric dams are a lot more difficult and expensive to build. However, the advantage of this is that they produce a large amount of energy for a small cost. 

Smaller hydro-schemes and hydroelectric dams are easier and cheaper to make, but they produce a lot less energy and at a higher expense.

The most important and severe disadvantages of hydroelectric dams include the following; it can alter the normal flow of rivers, which can block passages that migrating fish use to travel, it can cause the sudden occurrence of floods, displace local communities and increase the number of Earthquakes.