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Environmental Impact

Coal fired power plant involves releasing energy by burning coals, the burning of coals produces

heat that makes a certain water supply to turn into steam, this steam is what drives the generator

turbine that in turn produces electricity. However the process of converting the stored energy in

coal into usable electrical energy involves many sub-process that will have by products that may

directly or indirectly harm the environment. Below is some of the effects on the environment

caused by coal-fired power plants.

Water pollution

Coal power plants use nearby water resources for producing steam that is needed to drive

turbines, these power plant annually withdraws approximately 70 to 180 billion gallons of water

in which 0.36 to 1.1 billion is consumed and is not returned to the water supply, while in case of

re-circulating water cooled coal fired power plants it is approximated that it consumes 1.7 billion

to 4 billion gallons of water per year, when water is withdrawn for its water supply, fish that lives

in that water resources is affected as their young, their eggs and even adult fishes by the count of

millions may be drawn or trapped in the intake structures, which results in their injury and death.

Additionally the discharge water that returns to the water resources is hotter by 20-25 F than

initial water temperature that results in thermal pollution, this also affects again the fertility of

the marine animals living in the water resource. The water discharged may contain traces of

chlorine which and other toxic chemical that inhibits algae growth and is bad for the

environment.
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Air pollution

Coal-fired power plant involves combustion to produce heat that heats a water supply, the

combustion process releases heat energy along with other gases inherent with coal, the gas

discharges are mostly air pollutants which includes sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, soot,

carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and even heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic. Coal fired power

plants are major sources of carbon dioxide in the air, producing an average of 3.5million tons of

CO2 per year which contributes to smog that contributes to alleviation of stress and cause

headaches, formation of other toxic air pollutants including those of deplete the ozone layer and

acid rains that may damage a wide area of crops. Several coal fired power plant has been

equipped with pollution control to reduce this toxic air output, but pollutants factor is still very

significant.

Air Pollutants in coal-fired power plants(excluding CO2)

with pollution control no-pollution control

16000

14000

12000

10000

tonnes 8000

6000

4000

2000

0
SO2 NOx CO
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Heavy metal deposits is also produced in the process of the burning coal, the data below shows

the different solid waste materials produced in the coal fired power plant.

SOLID WASTE IN coal fi red power plant

600

500

400

tonnes 300

200

100

0
Lead Hydrocarbons Arsenic particulates

This heavy metals mix with the water resource and is especially harmful when consumed, it may

present health issues like cancer, brain damage and heart attacks.