Summary of Electrical Power Generation
FossilFuel
Nuclear
Hydroelectric Wind
Solar
Original energy
source
Coal oil gas
HEAT
Uranium
Nuclear
Heat
Falling water Moving
Kinetic
Air
Kinetic
Sunlight
Radiation
Hydrogen Geothermal
Fuel Cell
Chemical Heat
Source
From the
ground
Uses a turbine?
yes
yes
yes
yes
No
No
Yes
Is it renewable?
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No,
because of
Night-time
Not
renewable
Yes
Yes
Yes to set-up
But cheap
source of E
Water cycle
Can it produce
electricity
24/7?
Convenient?
Is it expensive
to set up and to
operate?
Does location
matter?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
??????
no
Yes to set-up Yes to set-up
But cheap
But cheap
source of E
source of E
Yes
Close to
water
Yes
Near water
Yes
Yes near
flowing water Windy loc
Yes
Open area
No
No
What effect
does it have on
environment?
Air quality,
waste, potential
for accidents.
OK near your
home?
Pollution
Carbon
dioxide
Radiation
meltdown
More natural.
Endangers
Birds
Dangerous
When they
break
Not a
problem
Could b/c
hydrogen is
explosive
Not a problem
Does it
contribute to
global
warming?
Yes
No
Does not
produce
CO2
No
Does not produce
CO2
No
Does not
produce
CO2
No
Does not
produce
CO2
Not directly
Depends on
source of
hydrogen
No
Does not
produce
CO2
Less pollution
May physically
Damage the
environment
Yes