Question

Compare the costs and benefits of hydropower to that of geothermal power. (Please include two costs and two benefits.)

Answer 1

Hydropower is water power, geothermal power is a power that is generated by the internal heat of the Earth. It does not cost as much to create hydropower than it is to geothermal power. Hydropower costs: putting a machine down near a body of water. Geothermal power costs: digging a hole into the Earth and putting a machine. It costs about $20,000 to install the geothermal machine and about 3 cents per kW, it costs about $2,000 to install the hydraulic energy machine and about 80 cents per kW.

Answer 2

Hydroelectric Power
The benefits are:
1. Hydroelectric power is mainly a renewable source of energy. It relies on the stream cycle of water which do not cause pollution.
2. Hydroelectric power also helps and promote water reservoir and storage.

The cost are:
1. 0.85 cents per kWh is the average cost in the US.
2. Conventional installation costs $1,000-$5,000


Geothermal Power
The benefits are:
1. There is no pollution
2. We lessen the utilization of fossil fuels

The costs are:
1. $0.03 to $0.035 per kWh is the cost of electricity by The Geysers.
2. $20,000 to $25,000 costs to build this power plant