Is Thermal Power Plant a Better Alternative to Coal Fired Power Plant? A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Thermal power plants are used worldwide to generate electricity by using heat energy. The thermal power plants in Pakistan are outdated and inefficient and use expensive fuel to generate electricity which has a huge environmental impact. Thermal power plants not only lead to air pollution but also have serious impacts on land and soil. The existing thermal power plant's efficiency can be improved by using imported coal which will reduce emissions and reach the increasing demand for electricity in the country. The government of Pakistan is currently interested in installing a coal-fired power plant. A coal-fired plant is a power plant in which electricity is generated by burning coal as steam is produced. The need to install a coal-fired power plant in Pakistan arises due to the lack of technology to process the coal that the country receives from the coal reserves in Thar. The amount of coal in Thar is huge, but its quality is considered low, and it needs significant investment in infrastructure for extraction and processing. The coal-fired power plant provides affordable and reliable constant power that can meet the country's demand for energy consumption. But it also has a negative impact on our environment. However, both plants have a considerable impact on the environment. Thermal power plants usually emit large amounts of mercury and fly ash which, one way or another, destroys our environment. These power plants discharge large volumes of wastewater, containing vast quantities of pollutants, into the waters, and these discharge pollutants cause severe health and environmental problems. As coal is burned in the coal-fired plant, a number of pollutants are released. Air pollution from coal-fired power plants can cause asthma, cancer, neurological problems, and global warming. A major man-made contributor to climate and global warming is the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from power plants. However, measures have been put in place to reduce the environmental impact, such as regular ecological monitoring should be done to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations and standards. Overall, the government of Pakistan and the public need to work together and present effective ideas to develop and implement the required solutions that will increase economic growth and should take steps to minimize the environmental impacts caused by the power plants. And efforts should be made to improve the efficiency of both plants cost-effectively.