Coal-fired power plants burn coal to produce steam, which drives turbines connected to generators. These plants are one of the oldest and most common types of power plants, but they are also one of the most environmentally damaging due to their high carbon emissions.
Natural gas power plants use natural gas as a fuel to produce steam, similar to coal-fired plants. They are more efficient and produce fewer emissions than coal plants, making them a popular choice for many utilities.
Nuclear power plants generate electricity by using the heat produced from nuclear fission reactions. They are highly efficient and produce large amounts of electricity with relatively low emissions. However, they also face significant challenges related to safety, waste disposal, and public acceptance.
Hydroelectric power plants use the energy of falling or fast-flowing water to produce electricity. They are a renewable source of energy and have a relatively low environmental impact, but they also have significant limitations related to geography and water availability.
Solar power plants use photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity, or they use concentrated solar power (CSP) systems to produce heat, which is then used to generate electricity. Solar power is a renewable and clean source of energy, but it is also intermittent and dependent on weather conditions.
Wind power plants use large turbines to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. They are a renewable and clean source of energy, but they also have significant limitations related to geography and intermittency.