Comparative evaluation of renewable energy sources

Renewable energy sources represent domestic, import-independent, secure and CO2-free electricity generation. This article aims to present the essential instruments for the comparability and evaluation of renewable energy sources as compactly and neutrally as possible. In order to classify hydropower use, comparisons with other renewable energy sources are presented on the basis of efficiency, full load hours and life cycle considerations such as CO2-balancing and the harvest factor. Compared to other renewable energy sources, hydropower is base-load capable; both the full- load hours and the harvest factor of hydropower are leading in the comparison. This makes it possible to generate electricity economically and continuously. Hydropower also offers additional energy-economy benefits such as storage capacity, the provision of balancing power, grid stabilization through the flywheels of turbines, water wheels, hydropower screws and generators, and black start capability. Hydropower also offers more than other renewable energies in terms of other social benefits. These include, for example, flood protection through dams, low water elevation and groundwater level protection during dry and drought phases, waste disposal from water bodies via trash rack cleaning machines, infrastructure for tourism as well as general water body maintenance. In this paper selected technical key figures of renewable energies are presented comparatively.