Hydroelectric vs. Wave Power
posted 4/4/22 by Anna Gdalevich
Hydroelectric and wave power are both different forms of hydropower, which utilizes the energy of moving water in order to generate power. Hydropower has been used since as early as 100 BCE, with the Greeks and Romans using water wheels to grind corn. However, these two forms can have different applications and one may be more suited for an environment than another. So, what are the similarities and differences between hydroelectric and wave power?
Hydroelectric power has a long history, as it was one of the first power sources for generating electric power, with it first being used in 1878 to power an arc lamp. Until 2019, it was the largest source of total annual US renewable electricity generation. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), it has been decreasing in recent years as the amount of electrical energy sources has increased. As of 2021, hydroelectric power has been about 31.5% of total renewable energy generation in the US.
Hydroelectric plants are often located on or around a freshwater source, with the plant’s power output depending on the water flow and change in elevation. The plants with the greater water flow and higher elevation generate more power. In a hydroelectric power plant, water flows through a pipe and onto a turbine, and the force powers a generator to produce electricity. There are some drawbacks to using hydroelectric power, however. One of the biggest is the environmental damage it can cause, as it can interrupt the natural flow of water, which has negative impacts on the local ecosystem and environment. It can disrupt fish migration patterns, affect water quality, and displace wildlife. Hydroelectric plants are also very expensive and take a long time to build, which makes them difficult to implement.
Likewise, wave power plants are placed on or below the surface of the water, or on the ocean floor, in order to capture the energy created by waves. Wave power also uses the movement of air to turn a turbine instead of using the movement of water. The movement of the water is an important step, as this movement pushes a column of air towards the turbine, powering a generator. The waves push the air because, when the water goes to fill the chamber, the air is moved up towards the turbine. Wave power is considered a “cleaner” form of hydropower than hydroelectric because it requires less equipment, though it still comes with its own issues. Wave power plants can have effects on marine wildlife, as machines may disturb the sea floor, causing the habits of animals like crabs and starfish to change and creating noise. There is also the risk of causing water pollution. Wave power also has drawbacks based on location, as only certain locations can benefit from it, such as power plants and seaside towns. Landlocked nations and cities are unable to utilize wave power and will have to rely on a different form of renewable energy.
Both hydroelectric and wave power use water to turn a turbine and power a generator, however they use the water’s movement for different purposes. Hydroelectric plants also tend to be in freshwater, while wave plants tend to be in saltwater. Hydroelectric also has a larger power output compared to wave power, with many hydroelectric plants being on a larger scale. Although hydropower produces more electricity, it also requires more equipment and infrastructure to generate compared to wave power. However, hydroelectricity can be more widely used, as freshwater sources are fairly common. Water can be the source of a large amount of electrical energy. Despite hydroelectric and wave power having their similarities, they have differences that could make one more suited for an environment than the other.
Sources
"Hydropower Explained: Wave Power." U.S. Energy Information Administration,
www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/wave-power.php.
"Hydropower Explained." U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/#:~:text=Hydropower%20explained%201%20Hydropower%20is%20energy%20in%20moving,moving%20water.%20...%204%20History%20of%20hydropower.%20.
Bhatt, Kishor. "Hydropower- 10 Advantages and Disadvantages." HPC, 12 June 2020,
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"Advantages and Disadvantages of Wave Power." Conserve Energy Future,