Hydropower and solar power are two tried-and-true renewable energy solutions.
While both of these technologies have major environmental benefits as compared to burning fossil fuels like coal or gas, each has its own set of advantages and possible complications.
As I will cover the differences between these two renewable energy sources further down the line, if you are here to find out who is the best, then stay tuned…
Solar Energy-
Solar power is defined as the process of transforming sunlight directly into electricity using solar panels. Solar power is acquired by the use of solar plates, which catch and transform the energy from sunshine.
Solar energy is particularly important in the current scenario, as the globe attempts to transition from traditional to alternative energy sources.
This form of energy is infinite; the Sun is a massive energy source. Solar cells, specifically photovoltaic cells, are used to capture the energy, which is then transformed from a DC current to an AC current using an inverter.
However, we’ve reached the solar age when it comes to generating electricity to power our homes and companies.
We can now harness the sun’s rays to create energy, which can subsequently be transported to homes, thanks to the invention of photoelectric cells.
Pros of Solar Energy-
Solar energy has various advantages. It offers several benefits for both you and the environment. They are-
- Renewable Energy Source
- Various Application Areas
- Maintenance at a Low Cost
- Spending Less
- Friendly to the environment
- Independent of fossil fuels
- Return on Investment
- Appropriate for Remote Locations
- Employment Increases
- Government Subsidies
Related Article: Advantages of Solar Energy:10 Benefits of Solar Energy
Cons of Solar Energy-
The following is a list of some of solar energy’s biggest drawbacks:
- High Initial Investment
- Low rate of Energy Conversion
- Weather-Dependent
- Expensive to Store Solar Energy
- Need Significant Amount of Space
- Inconsistency and Dependability
- Green House Gases Emission
- Mobility Complications
- Non-replaceable with Conventional Energy Source
- Need Special Rooftops
- Environmental Hazardous during Mass Production
Related Article: 10 Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Hydro-Energy-
Hydropower is simply the power generated by turbines using the energy of flowing water. Turbines are used to generate hydropower by converting the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity.
Hydropower is an ancient energy source that people have used for ages. Farmers in ancient Greece times, ground wheat into flour using water wheels.
The mill is powered by the kinetic energy of the flowing river, which rotates the wheels and is turned into mechanical energy.
Nowadays, hydropower technology is used to capture the energy of moving water to generate electricity, which is commonly referred to as hydroelectricity, in a hydropower plant.
The gravitational force of falling water from high heights or the potential energy of water flow in rivers are used to generate hydroelectricity.
Pros of Hydro-Energy-
The following is a summary of some of the most significant advantages of Hydro-Energy:
- No scarcity of water
- Minimal CO2 emission
- Lowest cost of production
- it runs in any weather
- Long lifespan
Cons of Hydro-Energy
The following is a list of some of the most significant disadvantages of Hydro-Energy:
- Geographically dependent
- Upfront fees are high.
- Installation’s influence on the environment
- Needs a lot of water
Hydro-Energy Vs Solar Energy: Which one to Choose-
If we’re talking about the future of our world and the environment’s long-term health, the answer is both.
If we are to break our dependency on fossil fuels, we will need both of them to function in combination with other types of sustainable energy.
We shouldn’t have to pick between the two when there are so many ways to diversify the amounts and types of renewable energy we use to power our homes and businesses.
The more ways you can use renewable energy to your benefit, the better. Installing rooftop solar and selecting an energy plan based on solar, wind, or hydropower are examples of this.
Related Article: Top 10 Largest Hydropower Plants in India
Wrapping Up-
There is no single renewable energy source that works well all of the time or in all situations. All of these new energy sources have some sort of environmental impact.
Every power source has specific advantages and disadvantages, thus they must be managed in collaboration to compensate for their drawbacks.
Although hydropower is a more dependable source of energy than solar, it is not suited in as many regions.
That’s all there is to say about the Difference between hydro energy and solar energy for the time being.
I hope you had a good time while you were here and learned something useful. If that’s the case, please consider sharing it with your colleagues and coworkers, as well as anybody else who might be in need. Engineers Rail values it tremendously.
Here are some similar topics you might be interested in learning more about:
Global Warming – Definition, Causes, Effects, Control And Prevention
Top 10 Pumped Storage Power Plants in India
Solar Energy |13 Benefits of solar Energy in India
Abhishek Tiwary is a blogger by passion and a Quality Engineer by profession. He completed his B.Tech degree in the year 2017. Now working in a reputed firm. He loves to share his knowledge with others.
