Bottom-Up: Micro-hydro Schemes, Peru

Created by: Noye
Created on: 06-06-13 21:30


	Bottom-Up: Micro-hydro Schemes, Peru
	Advantages SOCIAL: Local people involved at all stages Healthcare improved as electricty allows storage of medicines Electricity for schools Training of local people to operate the technology gives them skills ECONOMIC: Cheaper electricity than a large HEP scheme Uses local skills and cheap technology 60% of people said their income had increased ENVIRONMENTAL: Avoids flooding large areas, which takes away farmland Avoids burning wood from local trees for fuel Replaces fossil fuel use	Disadvantages SOCIAL: Poor people have to pay for metered electricity Some villages have doubled in size, creating population pressures ECONOMIC: Demand for electricity is variable Initial capital cost is high for a small village; £500 per household Some specialist equipment had to be imported ENVIRONMENTAL: Small storage dam is needed which alters the flow of the river and spoils the scenery
	Evaluation Micro-hydro schemes have an electricity generating capacity of less than 100KW. Water is diverted from a stream to a high point of the valley side and then down a pipe to turn a turbine.Rainfall is high so a charity called 'Practical Action' helped install 50 schemes, providing electricity for 30,000 people.This is a very sustainable approach as it doesn't damage the environment or people's livelihood and will last a long time as it uses local knowledge.

Bottom-Up: Micro-hydro Schemes, Peru

Advantages

SOCIAL:
Local people involved at all stages
Healthcare improved as electricty allows storage of medicines
Electricity for schools
Training of local people to operate the technology gives them skills
ECONOMIC:
Cheaper electricity than a large HEP scheme
Uses local skills and cheap technology
60% of people said their income had increased
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Avoids flooding large areas, which takes away farmland
Avoids burning wood from local trees for fuel
Replaces fossil fuel use

Disadvantages

SOCIAL:
Poor people have to pay for metered electricity
Some villages have doubled in size, creating population pressures
ECONOMIC:
Demand for electricity is variable
Initial capital cost is high for a small village; £500 per household
Some specialist equipment had to be imported
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Small storage dam is needed which alters the flow of the river and spoils the scenery

Evaluation

Micro-hydro schemes have an electricity generating capacity of less than 100KW. Water is diverted from a stream to a high point of the valley side and then down a pipe to turn a turbine.Rainfall is high so a charity called 'Practical Action' helped install 50 schemes, providing electricity for 30,000 people.This is a very sustainable approach as it doesn't damage the environment or people's livelihood and will last a long time as it uses local knowledge.

Comments

Mr A Gibson

Report Sun 9th March, 2014 @ 20:58

A one-page detailed grid with the right points to get you through a question on the topic. Advantages, disadvantages of Social, Economic and Environmental points.

Get Revising

Bottom-Up: Micro-hydro Schemes, Peru