Why is solar/wind/water power not already being used to generate energy?

Answer 1

Actually, these natural resources are being used to generate electricity. There are drawbacks to each of them, as there are drawbacks to using coal and nuclear energy.

Some of the top drawbacks to these forms of energy are:
1) consistency - most people want power day or not, whether the wind blows or not and whether the river is high or not.
2) energy content - these forms of energy are not as efficient as burning fuel, typically
3) cost
4) specific concerns, such as birds getting caught in wind turbines, fish habitat being destroyed by hydroelectric dams, etc.

Putting these all together, there are significant hurdles to overcome.

Answer 2

Firstly these energies are not mostly in use because of their cost. the solar power doesn't generate energy so much that can be used for large applications. wind power is not used mostly because for that we have to make the wind mills which are very costly as well as they cannot generate electricty at a very large scale unless there are many wind mills and they are also a danger to the birds. they are made where there are strong winds blowing. water is used but for it we have to make those costly dams for the generation. it also stops the way of a river.

Answer 3

It is, but for political reasons, other methods are used in preference.

When ALL costs are taken into consideration, these methods are only slightly more expensive than conventional coal and gas powered stations, but are massively cheaper than nuclear.

As mentioned above, politicians often have their own private agenda which involves the current government being paid dubious backhanders by companies to put in place policies that benefit worse (both environmentally and financially speaking) solutions.

Solar power does not provide an efficient return, but wind and water power do offer real possibilities.

Answer 4

It is the safest, reliable natural alternative and we have the technology to do it.

People have limited intelligence when looking to the future and the overall picture.

It is so much easier for people to destroy the fossil fuels and earth than to be creative enough to use a renewable alternative.

Greedy investors also expect a QUICK turn around for their money resulting in the cheaper way out.

Answer 5

Alternative energy

Answer 6

hmmm... wind and water flows do not have much energy hidden inside them than does coal or natural gas:)

Answer 7

Because it can't produce enough energy nuclear is the way forwards.

Answer 8

environmentalists. do we actually think that thousands of birds are going to be dumb enough to fly straight into a windmill? i always see many a bird avoid cars with precision, but when i throw cookies that fruit flies have had before me, they will eat the cookies. big rotating propellors of cookies...

Answer 9

cost of one unit electricity production by these methods is much higher than the hydroelectricity projects.

Answer 10

it is, but it's not very widespread right now...