Advantages and disadvantages of steam plant

A steam power plant converts the heat of fuel (coal, oil, gas) into electricity using a boiler, steam turbine and generator on the Rankine cycle.

Advantages

• Fuel is cheaper and widely available; initial cost is lower than hydro and nuclear plants.
• Can be built near the load centre, reducing transmission cost and losses.
• Requires less space than a hydro plant of equal capacity.
• Construction time is short.
• Not dependent on rainfall; suitable for base load throughout the year.
• Large unit sizes are possible; exhaust/bled steam can be used for process heating.
• Good overload capacity.

Disadvantages

• High running cost (fuel cost is continuous, fuel price rises).
• Low overall efficiency (about 30-40%); large heat loss in condenser.
• Air pollution (CO2, SO2, NOx, fly ash) and thermal pollution of water.
• Needs large amount of cooling water and fuel transport.
• Problems of ash handling and disposal.
• Slow start-up; not suitable for peak loads.
• Maintenance and operating staff costs are higher than hydro; plant life is shorter.