Advantages: Water energy is inexhaustible renewable and clean energy. However, in order to make effective use of natural water energy, it is necessary to artificially build hydraulic structures, such as dams, diversion pipes, culverts, etc., to concentrate the flow drop and adjust the flow. Therefore, the project investment is large and the construction period is long. However, hydropower has high efficiency, low power generation cost, fast start-up and easy adjustment. Because of the use of natural water flow, it is greatly influenced by natural conditions. Hydropower is often an important part of comprehensive utilization of water resources, which forms a comprehensive utilization system of water resources with shipping, aquaculture, irrigation, flood control and tourism.
Disadvantages:
1. Due to the terrain limitation, it is impossible to build too much capacity. The single machine capacity is about 300MW.
2. The construction period is long and the construction cost is high.
3. Because it is located in natural rivers or lakes and swamps, it is vulnerable to feng shui disasters and affects other water conservancy undertakings. Power output is easily affected by weather, drought and rain.
It is not easy to increase the production capacity after the factory is completed.
5. Ecological destruction: the water erosion under the dam is intensified, the river changes and its influence on animals and plants.
6. Dams are needed, immigrants are needed, and investment in infrastructure construction is large.
7. Due to erosion, the fertile alluvial soil in the downstream is reduced.