Types of Power Plants – Advantages and Disadvantages

A power plant is a systematic arrangement of electrical equipment used for producing electrical power. In other words, an industrial facility used for producing bulk amount of electric power is called a power plant. Power plant is also called generating station or power station. These power plants are connected to an electrical network, called grid or power grid.

A typical power plant contains many electrical and mechanical equipment such as prime mover or turbine, alternators, transformers, circuit breakers, conductors, etc.

A source of energy like steam/flowing water is used to rotate the prime mover that in turn drives the alternator to produce electricity.

Depending on the source of energy, the power plants can be classified into various types as follows -

• Thermal power plant
• Hydroelectric power plant
• Gas turbine power plant
• Nuclear power plant
• Solar power plant
• Wind power plant
• Geothermal power plant
• Biomass power plant

Apart from all these power plants, there are many other power plants as well.

This article is dedicated to explain the advantages and disadvantages of all the major power plants used in actual practice to produce electrical power. So, let start with the basic one that is thermal power plant.

Thermal Power Plant

A thermal power plant, also known as coal-based power plant, is one which uses coal as the primary source of energy to produce steam and drives the turbine and alternator.

It is the most common type of power plant used to produce electricity.

In a coal-based thermal power plant, heat energy is produced by the combustion of coal, then this heat energy is used to produce steam from water. Finally, the steam is used to turn a steam turbine which in turn drives an alternator to produce electrical energy.

Thermal Power Plants – Advantages

The major advantages of a thermal power plant are listed below -

• The main source of energy in a thermal power plant is coal which is a cheaper than other types of fossil fuels.
• Thermal power plants require lower initial cost to set up.
• Thermal power plants can be installed at any location without concerning about coal availability, as the coal can be transported to the plant by rail or road.
• Thermal power plants can provide continuous power supply throughout the year with a minimum power generation capacity. Hence, they are categorized as base-load plants.
• Thermal power plants can quickly respond to load change without any difficulty.
• The land/space required for installing thermal power is moderate.
• Thermal power plants can be installed near the load centers. This helps in reducing the transmission cost of power.
• Thermal power plants are matured and well-established infrastructures for power generation.
• Thermal power plants can be scaled up easily to meet the increasing demand of power.

Thermal Power Plants – Disadvantages

Though thermal power plants can have so much advantages as given above, they can also have certain disadvantages which are given below -

• Thermal power plants have high operating and maintenance cost.
• Thermal power plants emit greenhouse gases and produce ash. Hence, they cause environmental pollution.
• Thermal power plants require huge quantity of water for steam production and cooling purposes.
• In thermal power plants, handling of coal and disposal of ash is quite difficult.
• Thermal power plants require a long time to put into action.
• If load on the thermal power plants fall below 75% of the rated load, then their operation becomes uneconomical and efficiency drops rapidly.
• Thermal power plants use coal as the primary fuel for energy which is a depleting fuel.
• Thermal power plants also have effects on human health main respiratory problems.

So, this is all about some major advantages and disadvantages of thermal power plants. Let us now discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power plants.

Hydroelectric Power Plants

A hydroelectric power plant is a power generating station that utilizes the potential energy of stored water and kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electrical energy.

In a hydroelectric power plant, a water turbine is used to convert the kinetic energy of moving water into rotational mechanical energy. This rotational mechanical energy is then supplied to an alternator which converts it into electrical energy.

This is how a typical hydroelectric power plant works.

Let us now talk about the main advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power plant.

Hydroelectric Power Plants – Advantages

The following are some main advantages of hydroelectric power plants -

• In hydroelectric power plants, flowing water is the main source of energy to drive a generator. By facts, water is considered a renewable and sustainable source of energy and it does not deplete over time.
• Hydroelectric power plants do not use any fossil fuel. Hence, they do not impact the environment by producing air pollutants and emitting greenhouse gas.
• Hydroelectric power plants are also base load power plants that can generate minimum continuous electricity through the year to meet the power demand.
• Hydroelectric power plants have very low operating cost because there is no need of purchasing, transporting, storing a large quantity of fossil fuel.
• Hydroelectric power plants have no problem of smoke and ash.
• The fuel cost required in hydroelectric power plants is almost zero, as water is available free of cost.
• Hydroelectric power plants help in irrigation and flood control as well.
• Hydroelectric power plants have very long lifespan.
• Hydroelectric power plants do not require a long time to put into action, instead they can be put into service instantly.
• Hydroelectric power plants do not require much experienced operating persons.
• The efficiency of a hydroelectric power plant remains almost the same throughout its lifespan.
• Hydroelectric power plants can respond quickly to load variations.
• A very less maintenance is required in hydroelectric power plants.

Hydroelectric Power Plants – Disadvantages

Hydroelectric power plants can also have several disadvantages. Some major of them are listed below -

• A very high capital cost is required to setup a hydroelectric power plant.
• The availability of huge quantity of water required for operation of the plant depends on the weather condition. Thus, the output of hydroelectric power plants can be affected due to long dry season.
• Hydroelectric power plants are generally located in hilly and remote areas. This increases the cost of transmission lines.
• The overall capacity of hydroelectric power plant is quite low.
• To construct and setup the hydroelectric power plants, a skilled and highly experienced team is required to ensure technically robust construction.
• Hydroelectric power plants are subjected to risk of dam failure due to several factors like extreme rain and flooding that can cause loss of life and infrastructure.

Gas Turbine Power Plants

A gas turbine power plant is one in which a gas combustion chamber is used to combust the natural or other gaseous fuel to rotate the gas turbine and produce mechanical energy to drive the alternator. Thus, the gas turbine is the hearth of a gas power plant.

Similar to any other power plant, a gas turbine power plant also has several advantages and disadvantages which are explained in the following sections.

Gas Turbine Power Plants – Advantages

The main advantages of the gas turbine power plants are listed below -

• Gas turbine power plants are simple to design and install, as they do not have any boiler and their auxiliary equipment.
• For the same capacity, gas turbine power plants are smaller in size as compared to other types of power plants.
• Gas turbine power plants can put into service quickly and have faster response time.
• The initial and operation cost of gas turbine power plants are very low.
• In gas turbine power plants, very less quantity of water is required.
• The maintenance cost of gas turbine power plant is also low.
• Gas turbine power plants have no standby losses.

Gas Turbine Power Plants – Disadvantages

The following are some main disadvantages of gas turbine power plants

• For starting up a gas turbine power plant, an external power supply is required. This external supply is required to operate the compressor before starting the turbine.
• The life span of the combustion chamber used in gas power plant is smaller because it operates on a very high temperature.
• The net output of a gas turbine power plant is lower because a greater part of power developed by the turbine is used in driving the compressor.
• Gas turbine power plants are affected by the volatility of the fuel prices.
• The overall efficiency of gas turbine power plants is very low.

Nuclear Power Plants

A nuclear power plant is a type of power generating station in which the primary source of heat generation is a nuclear fuel like uranium.

In a nuclear power plant, the heat energy required for producing steam is obtained by nuclear fission of Uranium in a nuclear reactor. This heat energy is then supplied to a boiler to convert water into steam. This highly pressurized steam is then used to rotate the steam turbine. Finally, the turbine drives the alternator connected to it and produces electrical energy.

Like any other power plant, nuclear power plants also several advantages and disadvantages which are described below.

Nuclear Power Plants – Advantages

The following are some key advantages of nuclear power plants -

• Nuclear power plants use high energy density fuels like Uranium. Hence, they require a very small amount of fuel to produce electricity.
• Since a small quantity of fuel is used in nuclear power plants, hence, the fuel transportation cost for these power plants is very low.
• Nuclear power plants are relatively compact in size and require less space for installation.
• Nuclear power plants can provide continuous electric supply, hence, they are considered as base load plants.
• The operational life of nuclear power plant is longer.
• Nuclear power plants are economical source of producing a large amount of electric power.
• Nuclear fuels are available in large quantity all over the world. Hence, nuclear power plants can be supposed to produce electricity for thousands of years.
• Nuclear power plants have low running cost as they require only a small amount of fuel for producing a lager amount of electric power.
• Nuclear power plants have stable and reliable operation.

Nuclear Power Plants – Disadvantages

Though, nuclear power plants have several advantages as given above. But they also have certain disadvantages which are listed below -

• The fuel used in nuclear power plants is quite expensive and very difficult to recover.
• The by-products or waste produced by nuclear power plants are radioactive materials. They have disposal problem and usually disposed off in a deep trench or in a sea away from sea shore.
• Highly skills persons are required for erection and commissioning of nuclear power plants.
• Nuclear power plants cannot be used to supply highly varying loads as they are inefficient in responding to load fluctuations.
• Maintenance cost of nuclear power plants is high.
• Nuclear power plants cause radioactive pollution which is dangerous for living beings.
• The capital cost of nuclear power plants is very high.

Solar Power Plants

A solar power plant is a type of power generating stations in which solar panels are used to convert sunlight into electricity. These power plants are also known as solar farms.

Solar power plants are the most common types of renewable energy-based power plants. Solar panels produce direct current electricity when sunlight fall on to them.

The DC energy produced by solar panels is stored in storage batteries and converted into AC supply using inverters for use.

Solar power plants are considered to have numerous advantages and disadvantages which are given below.

Solar Power Plants – Advantages

The major advantages of solar power plants are listed below -

• Solar power plants use energy from sunlight to produce electricity which is renewable and available in abundant.
• Solar power plants do not pollute the environment and do not cause the emission of greenhouse gas.
• Solar power plants use sunlight as the main source of fuel which is available free of cost. Hence, the operation cost of solar power plants is low.
• Solar power plants can be easily scaled up, simply by installing more solar panels.
• Solar power plants are generally installed near to the load centers. Hence, they reduce the transmission cost.
• Solar power plants can be constructed in less time.

Solar Power Plants – Disadvantages

However, solar power plants have several advantages as given above. But they also have certain disadvantages given as follows -

• The operation of solar power plants is dependent on weather conditions.
• Solar power plants require a significant space or land for installation.
• The efficiency of solar power plants can vary depending on the environmental factors like temperature, shading, orientation of panel, etc.
• When compared to traditional power plants, the solar power plants have limited energy density.
• Solar power plants require higher capital cost due to requirement of large land area.

Wind Power Plants

A wind power plant is a power generating station that utilizes the kinetic energy of flowing wind to generate electrical energy.

In a wind power plant, the flowing wind rotates the wind turbine and the turbine drives an alternator to generate electrical energy.

These power plants are generally located in hilly or high windy areas and have several advantages and disadvantages which are given below.

Wind Power Plants – Advantages

The main advantages of wind power plants are listed below -

• Wind power plants are renewable source of electricity.
• Wind power plants do not pollute the environment as they do not use any fossil fuels.
• The operating cost of wind power plants is lower.
• To meet the load demands, the wind power plants can be scaled up easily just by adding more wind turbines.
• Wind power plants have a longer lifespan.
• Wind power plans allow land owners to diversify their sources of income by using the land for multiple purposes.

Wind Power Plants – Disadvantages

Wind power plants can also have certain disadvantages -

• The operation of wind power plants depends on the weather conditions like speed and direction of the wind. Therefore, their output is intermittent and variable.
• A large land area is required for installation of wind power plants or wind farms. Hence, they are not suitable to build in highly populated areas.
• During operation, wind turbines generate significant noise that can create inconvenience for persons residing there.
• Wind turbines have a risk of bird collision that can impact the biodiversity.
• The rotating blades of the wind turbines cause some disturbances, as they create a shadow flicker effect when sunlight passes through them.
• As the output of the wind power plant is non-predictable, hence, they have difficulty in integration with power grids.

Geothermal Power Plants

A geothermal power plant is a hydrothermal type of power generating station in which both water and heat energy are used to generate electricity.

In these power plants, steam or hot water wells are drilled into the earth. Then, the steam or hot water are bringing to the surface by piping. After that this steam is used to rotate a turbine and to drive an alternator to generate electricity.

Geothermal power plants can have several pros and cons which are explained below.

Geothermal Power Plants – Advantages

The main advantages of geothermal power plants are listed below -

• Geothermal power plants are renewable energy-based power plants that use heat and water from the earth.
• Geothermal power plants do not emit greenhouse gas and other air pollutants. Thus, they are clean methods of producing electricity.
• The operation of geothermal power plants is independent of the weather conditions. Therefore, they can be used as based load power stations.
• The operating cost of geothermal power plants is lower, as they do not require fossil fuels for operation.
• Geothermal power plants require smaller land area for installation.
• Geothermal power plants can be integrated with other thermal power generating stations to increase their efficiency and output.• Geothermal power plants can be integrated with other thermal power generating stations to increase their efficiency and output.

Geothermal Power Plants – Disadvantages

Apart from the advantages, geothermal power plants also have several disadvantages which are given below -

• Geothermal power plants can be installed in specific locations where resources of geothermal (hydro-thermal) energy exist.
• Geothermal power plants require drilling process into the deep earth’s crust which is a quite expensive process.
• The capital cost involved in installation of geothermal power plants is high.
• Geothermal power plants have a lower energy density.
• Geothermal power plants require a lot of exploration work to find the large resources of geothermal energy.

Biomass Power Plants

A type of power generating station in which the heat energy required for producing steam is obtained by burning of biomass such as plants or animal residues is known as a biomass power plant. Biomass power plants are one of the main sources of renewable energy on the earth.

In a biomass power plant, biomass products like plant or animal matters are burned in a combustion chamber to produce heat. This released heat is then used to convert water into steam. The steam drives a steam turbine which in turn coupled to an alternator. The alternator produces electrical energy. This is how a biomass power plant generates electricity from burning of biomass matter.

Like any other power plant, biomass power plants also have some advantages and disadvantages which are given below.

Biomass Power Plants – Advantages

The main advantages of biomass power plants are listed below -

• Biomass power plants are renewable sources of energy.
• Biomass power plants use organic waste materials like plant, animal, or agriculture residues as the fuel.
• Biomass power plants help in managing and reducing waste materials produced in our daily life.
• Biomass power plants have significant contribution in rural development by supplying electricity for basic needs.
• The operation of biomass power plants is carbon neutral.
• Biomass power plants can be turned on or off at any time to meet the load demand.
• The fuel used in biomass power plants i.e., organic waste materials are available in abundance.

Biomass Power Plants – Disadvantages

Biomass power plants can also have several disadvantages which are given below -

• Construction of biomass power plants require a high capital cost.
• The operation of biomass power plants involves harvesting and transportation cost of biomass materials.
• A proper storage of biomass material is required at the plant site which adds some extra cost to the plant operation.
• Plant installation plus storage of biomass materials require a large land area.
• Although biomass power plants are carbon neutral, but they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Thus, they are not carbon-zero plants.
• Combustion of biomass materials in a biomass power plant emits various greenhouse gases like methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, etc.
• Biomass plants are less efficient than other power plants as they consume more energy for burning of organic waste.

Conclusion

In this article, we explained in detail the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used power generating stations such as thermal power plants, solar plants, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants, etc.