The advantages and disadvantages of different electrical energy sources

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Coal

Advantages:

  • Reliable
  • Bigger reserves than other fossil fuels

Disadvantages:

  • Non-renewable
  • When burnt, it produces CO2, a greenhouse gas
  • When burnt, it produces SO2, creating acid rain

Oil

Advantages:

  • Reliable

Disadvantages:

  • Non-renewable
  • When burnt, it produces CO2, a greenhouse gas
  • When burnt, it produces SO2, creating acid rain

Gas

Advantages:

  • Reliable

Disadvantages:

  • Non-renewable
  • When burnt, it produces CO2, a greenhouse gas

Nuclear

Advantages:

  • Doesn't produce polluting gases
  • Reliable

Disadvantages:

  • Non-renewable
  • Produces hazardous nuclear waste - this is difficult to dispose of
  • Small risk of big nuclear accident e.g. Chernobyl disaster 1986

Wind

Advantages:

  • Renewable
  • Doesn't produce polluting gases
  • Free energy resource

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