Thermal power plants have been a main source of electricity for over 100 years. They burn fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, or oil to create heat. This heat boils water to make steam, which then spins turbines to generate electricity. While thermal power plants have played a crucial role in supporting the industrial revolution and modern civilisation, they come with both significant advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Thermal Power Plant
1. Financial benefits
The relatively low cost of generating electricity with thermal power is one of its primary benefits. The plants run on fossil fuels, which are still widely available and cheap to utilize. Thermal power plant requires a lower initial investment when compared to other kinds of power plants. Due to the area’s proximity to major cities, travel and living expenses are kept to a minimum. These plants are typically located close to the load center to cut down on the price of power transmission.
2. High Efficiency in Electricity Production:
Modern thermal power plants can achieve high levels of efficiency, particularly combined cycle plants, which utilize both gas and steam turbines. This efficiency ensures a higher output of electricity from the same amount of fuel compared to older systems.
3. Location benefits
Unlike hydropower projects, thermal plants have far more flexibility in terms of location. Sites for thermal power plants can be chosen with little need for population relocation in mind. Thermal power facilities have a superior cost-benefit ratio than hydroelectric projects since they are typically situated closer to population hubs. Thermal power plants tend to be built in flat settings because they don’t need vast amounts of land.
4. Good source of energy
To meet the expected power needs of the future, thermal electricity production is seen as the most stable option. The power plants can adapt to different power needs and shifting patterns of demand. Power generation output can be regulated to meet changing demand. Thermal power is the backbone of the grid because of its consistent output. Thermal power generation technology is mature and widely available, making it a more trustworthy energy option.
5. More job opportunities
Communities that host thermal power plants benefit from an increase in employment opportunities. Experts in science, research, and drilling are only few of the fields that contribute to safe and effective operations.
6. Good feasibility in long term
Thermal plants can thrive and produce many megawatts of new power in areas where long-term steam generation is available. Under these conditions, plants are able to quickly recoup their initial investments. Seventy percent of the world’s electricity is made in thermal power plants right now.
Disadvantages of Thermal Power Plant
As we’ve seen, there are many positive aspects to using a thermal energy plant, but the biggest disadvantage is the pollution it causes to the surrounding area. The smoke and emissions producing coals are used in the thermal power plant. Let’s learn more of its drawbacks below:
1. Fossil fuel use
Thermal power plants use fuels that are finite. Coal & natural oil must be mined from the earth to fuel thermal power plants, leading to their depletion. Coal and natural oil quality can also affect thermal power plants’ ability to generate as much electricity as possible.
2. Water needs
The generation of steam to drive the turbines in thermal power plants is water-intensive. The severe impact that the massive demand for water has on rivers, lakes, & groundwater is a direct result of this.
3. Soil and air pollution
Power plant operations contribute to climate change by releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide, co2, and other toxic gases are occasionally released and have a negative effect on the environment. Air, water, and soil can all be tainted by the fly ashes and mercury vapors released by certain thermal power plants.
Transporting coal, loading and unloading fuels, storing coal and oil, etc., all have the potential to release pollutants into the environment from non-point sources. Plant effluents, demineralization, ash handling, and other processes can all contribute to water contamination.
4. Hazards
Some of the hazards of working in this industry include exposure to crystalline silica dust, huge water mains, and high temperatures from steam. Thankfully, these dangers are minimal, especially when compared to other forms of energy production like fossil fuels.
5. Less life span and low efficiency
A thermal power plant has a low efficiency rating. Several thermal power plants that rely on coal use antiquated systems that can’t be modernized. This has a larger impact on the efficiency and longevity of thermal power facilities than on hydroelectric ones. As pollution as well as the greenhouse effect is contributing to a warming planet, environmentalists have advocated for reducing the usage of coal in power plants.
There may be an added disadvantage for the necessary extension of thermal power stations because of the greater financial certainty about constraints on fossil fuel extraction.
6. Huge maintenance costs
Thermal power plants have very high operating and maintenance costs. Thermal power plants use sophisticated machinery and equipment that can only be operated by trained professionals. The frequency of machine breakdowns and the associated uptick in maintenance needs are both high.
Further growth of plant resources and capacity is limited due to a lack of current equipment and competent employees to handle maintenance and operation. Transporting raw materials and keeping vast storage space for coals & other fuels adds to the overall price tag.
Conclusion
To the degree achievable, we should adopt a few renewable energy sources for electricity generation and work toward reducing atmospheric pollution.
