⇒ To generate electricity using hydroelectric power, you need to flood a large aread of land (usually a valley) by constructing a dam
⇒ The rain is captured by the dam and allowed to go through the dam to turn a turbine
⇒ One of the biggest disadvantages of hydroelectic power is the fact that flooding a large area of land often leads to displacement of people from their homes and rotting vegetation (which causes methane and carbon dioxide release)
⇒ Another problem is the fact that it costs a lot to set up. However, once built, there is no fuel and minimal costs to run it.
⇒ Power stations tend to run all night, generating a surplus of electricity that isn't needed. All this extra electricity can be hard to store, but pumped storage is one of the best solutions
⇒ With pumped storage, the additional electricity that is generated at night can be used to pump water up to a higher reservoir, which can then be released during times when demand for electricity is high - this, like hydroelectric power, generates turbines and creates electricity
⇒ Pumped storage isn't the same as hydroelectric power, but it allows you to store energu which has been generated previously
⇒ There isn't that much coal or oil left, so many of the power stations that rely on this power are being taken out of use or decomissioned
⇒ Usually, they are replaced by gas powered stations, although that isn't the only option to generate electricity as you can see from the other pages of notes
⇒ When deciding to build a power station there are a few things to consider: the cost of construction, the time it will take to build, the amount of power it will generate, the potential impact on the environment, and the impact on locals