Science
For science, the task was to write an essay on hydroelectric powerplants. During the fieldtrip to Medan, we visited this powerplant called PLT Asahan. During our visit, we ask many questions which could have the essay. Below is the result.
Hydroelectric Powerplant
Aditya, Grace, Nayoung
Science
15/03/2013
Application
There are many ways to produce energy. Enercy is generated from renewable and non renewable resources. Non renewable resources are like fossil fuel, patroleum, nuclear, and coal. Renewable resources are the more natural ones. For example solar energy, wind turbines and hydroelectric powerplants. The energy from hydroelectric powerplants comes from the flow of water. In the PLT Asahan hydroelectric powerplant which is found in Medan, the river powers the powerplant. As the river flows, it spins the turbines which then generates the generator. Energy is then produced. The river flows from a bigger water source which lake Toba. Therefore the powerplant has to control the amount of flowing water. That is why various dams are constructed from the lake to the powerplant. This way, they can control the amount of water depensding on situations. When it is rainy season, they can reduce the amount of water while when it’s during dry season, they can release more water.
This is how the powerplant operates in the PLT Asahan hydroelectrical powerplant. The water basically spins the turbines which produces the energy. The produced energy is transfused to the chords which run through high towers. The energy then runs through the towers until it reaches a aluminum industry. The energy from the powerplant powers the aluminum industry, it is the biggest power source for the industry.
That is a global issue that hydroelectric powerplants have solved. They can power super industries like the aluminum and it is a renewable resoure. This means it is safe because it is natural, it is derived from the environment. The source is unlimited and it won’t damage the world we are living in.
Effectiveness
Hydroelectric powerplants are definitely superioir energy producers. They generate energy through natural resources. This is remarkable because nature will not run out. Hence, logically the powerplant will run forever. It surely is a great way to produce energy and it has countless advantages. However there are also disadvantages with the hydroelectric powerplant. Here are the advantages and the disadvantages:
Advantages:
1. Once a dam is constructed for the powerplant, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.
2. If electricity is not needed, they can close the openings of the dam. That will stop the electricity generation. The water can be saved for use another time.
3. Dams are designed to last long. Therefore there will be large amounts of electricity for the future.
4. The river and lake used for the powerplant can be used for various purposes. It can be more entertainment or just for the daily life of the locals.
5. The people from the PLT Asahan powerplant maintain the environment. They keep the rivers clean so it won’t get contaminated. The locals will also be able to enjoy the environment.
6. The electricity produced by the dams don’t produce green house gases. Therefore it does not pollute the atmosphere.
7. The electricity produced from the powerplant supports the aluminum company. This means aluminum company won’t pollute the environment because it is powered by a natural resource.
8. The aluminum company won’t need to worry about loosing electricity because the powerplant will manage it for them.
9. It won’t damage the environment
10. It can be used throughout the world.
Disadvantages:
1. Dams for the poewerplant are extremely expensive to build and must be constructed to a very high standard. Also, dams are really hard to construct.
2. Since it has a high cost to for construction, it will take time to be able to gain profit.
3. Some of the locals would have to leave their homes. They have to leave because of the construction. Most of them would probably loose their jobs.
4. The building of large dams may result serious geological damage. For example, the building of the Hoover Dam in the USA triggered a number of earthquakes.
5. It is a more complicated and more expensive resource compared to non renewable resources such as petroleum.
6. It may affect the wildlife in the environment. Fishes and animals living near the water may be harmed.
Factors
Environmental
Hydroelectrical powerplant certainly affects the environment since the generated energy is basically derived from water.First of all is the construction of the hydroelectric powerplant. The construction of the dams and the powerplant must have damaged the environment. They must have had people evacuating. They used explosives in order to have good surface for the powerplants and the dams. Not to mention the water. While construction was being done, the water must have been polluted. No matter what the PLT Asahan company says about mininum environment damage, the water must have received damage. It definitely was slightly contaminated by chemicals. When this happened, the marine life was also impacted. The fishes were probably harmed, they got sick and some of them might have died. That is the negative impact towards the environment. However, PLT Asahan also provides positive impacts. After the contruction was done and the whole operation was running, they tried to mantain the environment. They kept the rivers and the forrest clean. They kept the wildlife in the environment alive, this is certainly good and it definitely pleases the locals.
Economical
Hydroelectric powerplants surely affects the economy since economy is relevant with money. The cost of constructing the powerplant is incredibly high. It’s very expensive to build therefore before construction, the owners might have to think of the economy. For the PLT Asahan powerplant, the owners made a huge gamble. The Japanese invested loads of money on the project, they definitely weren’t sure if the project was going to be a success. At that time the Japanese economy was doing quite well, that could have been the reason why they decided to carry on with the project. Yes in the end the project was completed and it was a success. The Japanese got 60% of the aluminum that is powered from the hydroelectric powerplant. The rest is given to Indonesia.
Social
The PLT Asahan hydroelectric powerplant has some impact to social life especially locals. The reason to this is because the location of the powerplant is very remote. There were definitely locals living near there and they had to evacuate during the construction process. The locals must have disliked it during that time. However after the project was completed, the company made sure the environment was green and clean. The water and the forrest was mantained and that must have pleased the locals. Other than the locals, society also gains benefits through the aluminum company. The aluminum company which is powered with hydroelectrcity produces good aluminum for society. Aluminum is a very valuable metal and it surely helps the people.
MLA:
"Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower." Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
"Hydroelectric Power." Hydroelectric Power. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
Aditya, Grace, Nayoung
Science
15/03/2013
Application
There are many ways to produce energy. Enercy is generated from renewable and non renewable resources. Non renewable resources are like fossil fuel, patroleum, nuclear, and coal. Renewable resources are the more natural ones. For example solar energy, wind turbines and hydroelectric powerplants. The energy from hydroelectric powerplants comes from the flow of water. In the PLT Asahan hydroelectric powerplant which is found in Medan, the river powers the powerplant. As the river flows, it spins the turbines which then generates the generator. Energy is then produced. The river flows from a bigger water source which lake Toba. Therefore the powerplant has to control the amount of flowing water. That is why various dams are constructed from the lake to the powerplant. This way, they can control the amount of water depensding on situations. When it is rainy season, they can reduce the amount of water while when it’s during dry season, they can release more water.
This is how the powerplant operates in the PLT Asahan hydroelectrical powerplant. The water basically spins the turbines which produces the energy. The produced energy is transfused to the chords which run through high towers. The energy then runs through the towers until it reaches a aluminum industry. The energy from the powerplant powers the aluminum industry, it is the biggest power source for the industry.
That is a global issue that hydroelectric powerplants have solved. They can power super industries like the aluminum and it is a renewable resoure. This means it is safe because it is natural, it is derived from the environment. The source is unlimited and it won’t damage the world we are living in.
Effectiveness
Hydroelectric powerplants are definitely superioir energy producers. They generate energy through natural resources. This is remarkable because nature will not run out. Hence, logically the powerplant will run forever. It surely is a great way to produce energy and it has countless advantages. However there are also disadvantages with the hydroelectric powerplant. Here are the advantages and the disadvantages:
Advantages:
1. Once a dam is constructed for the powerplant, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.
2. If electricity is not needed, they can close the openings of the dam. That will stop the electricity generation. The water can be saved for use another time.
3. Dams are designed to last long. Therefore there will be large amounts of electricity for the future.
4. The river and lake used for the powerplant can be used for various purposes. It can be more entertainment or just for the daily life of the locals.
5. The people from the PLT Asahan powerplant maintain the environment. They keep the rivers clean so it won’t get contaminated. The locals will also be able to enjoy the environment.
6. The electricity produced by the dams don’t produce green house gases. Therefore it does not pollute the atmosphere.
7. The electricity produced from the powerplant supports the aluminum company. This means aluminum company won’t pollute the environment because it is powered by a natural resource.
8. The aluminum company won’t need to worry about loosing electricity because the powerplant will manage it for them.
9. It won’t damage the environment
10. It can be used throughout the world.
Disadvantages:
1. Dams for the poewerplant are extremely expensive to build and must be constructed to a very high standard. Also, dams are really hard to construct.
2. Since it has a high cost to for construction, it will take time to be able to gain profit.
3. Some of the locals would have to leave their homes. They have to leave because of the construction. Most of them would probably loose their jobs.
4. The building of large dams may result serious geological damage. For example, the building of the Hoover Dam in the USA triggered a number of earthquakes.
5. It is a more complicated and more expensive resource compared to non renewable resources such as petroleum.
6. It may affect the wildlife in the environment. Fishes and animals living near the water may be harmed.
Factors
Environmental
Hydroelectrical powerplant certainly affects the environment since the generated energy is basically derived from water.First of all is the construction of the hydroelectric powerplant. The construction of the dams and the powerplant must have damaged the environment. They must have had people evacuating. They used explosives in order to have good surface for the powerplants and the dams. Not to mention the water. While construction was being done, the water must have been polluted. No matter what the PLT Asahan company says about mininum environment damage, the water must have received damage. It definitely was slightly contaminated by chemicals. When this happened, the marine life was also impacted. The fishes were probably harmed, they got sick and some of them might have died. That is the negative impact towards the environment. However, PLT Asahan also provides positive impacts. After the contruction was done and the whole operation was running, they tried to mantain the environment. They kept the rivers and the forrest clean. They kept the wildlife in the environment alive, this is certainly good and it definitely pleases the locals.
Economical
Hydroelectric powerplants surely affects the economy since economy is relevant with money. The cost of constructing the powerplant is incredibly high. It’s very expensive to build therefore before construction, the owners might have to think of the economy. For the PLT Asahan powerplant, the owners made a huge gamble. The Japanese invested loads of money on the project, they definitely weren’t sure if the project was going to be a success. At that time the Japanese economy was doing quite well, that could have been the reason why they decided to carry on with the project. Yes in the end the project was completed and it was a success. The Japanese got 60% of the aluminum that is powered from the hydroelectric powerplant. The rest is given to Indonesia.
Social
The PLT Asahan hydroelectric powerplant has some impact to social life especially locals. The reason to this is because the location of the powerplant is very remote. There were definitely locals living near there and they had to evacuate during the construction process. The locals must have disliked it during that time. However after the project was completed, the company made sure the environment was green and clean. The water and the forrest was mantained and that must have pleased the locals. Other than the locals, society also gains benefits through the aluminum company. The aluminum company which is powered with hydroelectrcity produces good aluminum for society. Aluminum is a very valuable metal and it surely helps the people.
MLA:
"Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower." Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
"Hydroelectric Power." Hydroelectric Power. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.