Coal
Advantages of Coal:
- Reliable source of energy
- Established infrastructure
- Cost-effective in some regions
Very reliable due to the fact that we already have a lot of coal mines set up and know how to efficiently gain energy from burring it
Unlike many renewable energy sources, there are many coal mines and power plants already established which are reliable for generating a lot of electricity.
Coal power is a lot cheaper than renewable energy sources, so it is often the only option for less fortunate countries that don't have the money for renewable energy sources.
Disadvantages of Coal:
- High carbon emissions
- Contributes to air and water pollution
- Finite resource, non-renewable
Buring coal for energy produces a very high amount of the greenhouse gas CO2 which traps heat in the atmosphere and reflects it back at earth causing temperatures to rise
The emissions released from the coal plants reduce the air quality which can cause damage to your lungs and coal power plants also release toxic waste water into rivers, lakes, etc. Which can pollute drinking water causing people to get very sick if unknowingly drunk.
Coal takes millions of years to form so we are working with a finite amount when we inevitably run out of coal. It will cause a huge impact on our power industry if coal is still one of our main power sources.
