Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
High Costs
Although the newer forms of water power can create electricity,
the cost of doing so is high. Many of the companies trying to
create electricity from the tides or currents are small. Some
do not have the money to develop their plans on a large scale,
which would help cut costs. They also may not have the money
to carry out experiments over a long period of time.
Seawater causes a process called
corrosion
. Chemicals in
the water make metal weak and then break down. Companies
using underwater turbines will have to keep replacing metal
parts to make sure the systems work. If the turbines are far
off the coast, the companies will have to spend more money
bringing workers and supplies to these sites. Right now,
electricity from wave power costs about 20 cents per kilowatt-
Many people were killed and a great deal of damage was done when a dam burst in
Indonesia in March 2009.
