Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants

 Hydroelectric Power plants have many distinct advantages over other power plants.

Advantages or Merits of Hydroelectric Power plants

1. In Hydroelectric Power Plants, No fuel is required by such plants as water is the source of energy. hence operating costs are low and there are no problems of handling and storage of fuel and disposal of ash.
2. The Hydroelectric Power Plants is highly reliable and it is cheapest in operation and maintenance.
3. The Hydroelectric Power Plants can be run up and synchronised in a few minutes.
4. The load can be  varied quickly and the rapidly changing load demands can be met without any difficulty.
5. Very accurate governing is possible with water turbines so much power plants have constant speed and hence constant frequency.
6. There are no standby losses in Hydroelectric Power Plants.
7. Hydroelectric Power Plants are robust and have got longer life (around 50 years).
8. The efficiency of Hydroelectric Power Plants does not fall with the age.
9. Hydroelectric Power Plant is very neat and clean plant because no smoke or ash is produced.
10. In Hydroelectric Power Plants, Highly skilled engineers are required only at the time of construction but later on only a few experienced persons will be required.
11. Hydroelectric power plants, in addition to generation of electric power, also serve other purposes such as irrigation, flood control and navigation.
12. Hydroelectric Power plants are usually located in remote areas where land is available at cheaper rates.

Disadvantages or Demerits of Hydroelectric Power plants

1. Hydroelectric Power Plants requires large area.
2. Hydroelectric Power Plants construction cost enormously high and takes a long time for erection(owing to involvement of huge civil engineering works).
3. In hydroelectric Power plant, long transmission lines are required as the plants are located in hilly areas which are quite away from the load centre.
4. The output of Hydroelectric Power Plant is never constant owing to vagaries of monsoons and their depens on the rate of water flow in river. Long dry season may affect the power supply.
5. The firm capacity of hydroelectric power plants is low and so backup by steam plants is essential.
6. Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir submerges huge areas, uproots large population and creates social and other problems.