- With renewable and recycleable the environmental impacts may be both positive and negative
Environmental Impacts of Renewable and Recyclable Energy Sources
Energy Source |
Positive |
Negative |
Hydroelectric |
- No greenhouse gas emissions
- Controls flooding downstream
|
- Large areas of land are flooded behind the dam
- Dam traps sediment which can affect ecosystems downstream
- Visual pollution
- Can prevent fish movement upstream
- In tropical areas it often involves large scale deforestation
|
Wave/Tidal |
- No greenhouse gas emissions
- No air pollution
|
- Can affect marine ecosystems
|
Wind |
- No greenhouse gas emissions once in place
- No air pollution
|
- Visual pollution
- Noise pollution
- May affect bird migration patterns or kill birds who fly into the moving blades
- Greenhouse gas emissions during manufacture
|
Solar |
- No greenhouse gas emissions once in place
- No air pollution
|
- Uses large areas of land
- Greenhouse gas emissions during manufacture
|
Geothermal |
|
|
Nuclear |
- No greenhouse gas emissions once in place
|
- Large amounts of cement used in power plant construction (manufacture of cement releases greenhouse gases)
- Disposal of waste
|
Biofuel |
- Uses waste or biofuels which can be regrown
|
- Air pollution
- Produces greenhouse gas emissions
|