Better than coal, oil and nuclear is hydro

After damning the dams, now here comes a research that feels hydro is most sustainable and acceptable environmentally and economically!

Researchers in Italy and the UK have reviewed the economic, social and environmental impact of hydro, coal, oil, gas and nuclear power. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but of these conventional electricity generation technologies, hydroelectric power wins the race.

Research literature has offered several studies of the economics of power plants but these are commonly based on cash flow considerations whereas sustainability factors, such as environmental and social considerations have moved higher up the agenda when investment in this area of technology is considered.

Writing in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, the team explains that as worldwide demand for electricity grows, new power plants must be built. However, the "green" options of solar, wind, tidal and other newer forms of electricity generation simply cannot maintain pace with demand. The team has considered various factors: fuel supply security, environmental impact, public acceptance, volatility of fuel price, risk of severe accident and emergency planning zone (EPZ) consideration -- in assessing each classification of power generation. Where hydroelectric power generation is not possible, nuclear and coal-fired power plants are the next obvious choice, but each has many pros and many cons.

The question is whether we should be looking at lesser of evils or rooting out evil!! Renewable may not be able to match demand on its own but surely a combination could stand taller than the hydro option which has its own environmental fallouts?