|
| quote: | Originally posted by kush paintings
China, however, seems to be going to water as a primary energy source.
China is still very active in building dams today. ”At least 90 dams over 60 meters are under construction, including the Three Gorges dam on the Yangtze (175m).”(1) The three gorges damn, which is scheduled to be completed in 2009 will generate 18.2 gigawatts each year. (3)
Even with the approximately 85,000 dams in the country, China is only using 12% of its hydropower resources. In some developed countries between 50 and 90% of available hydropower locations are utilized. (2) This gives hydropower a bright future in China. The country can continue to expand its hydroelectric production, while countries like the United States have used up most of the good locations for hydropower plants and are unable increase their hydropower production. “Hydropower is expected to represent 27 percent of the country’s power generation capacity by 2005, a 3.5 percent rise from the current level.” (2)
1. Global Dam Statistics-China:Global Dam Statistics
2. State Eyes Hydropower to Relieve Pollution
3. China: Environmental Issues-US Energy Information Agency |
Grr, my post got deleted so I'll put it shortly this time. Anyway, yes, hydro is a good energy source, but it usually can't supply 100% of a country's demand for energy. Aside from that, to build 3 gorges dam, China had to relocate some 3 million people, including a town of 1 million, and then flooded the whole region, sinking towns and some archeological finds deep beneath the lake.
___________________
1+1=10
|