Power stations

Energy production is a large, ubiquitous and often highly polluting industry. Coal fired energy power-stations are widely regarded as some of the most polluting industries in the world, both in terms of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants, including particulates, NOx and sulphates. Although coal-fired power stations are being decommissioned in parts of Europe and China, total production figures are still rising. Oil and gas fired power stations are also major sources of greenhouse gases, but are generally more efficient and produce lower levels of other pollutants. Nuclear power production is regarded by some as very clean, but with a very low risk of contamination from highly toxic and long-lived radionucleotides. Coastal nuclear-power plants typically release heated water into the coastal environments. Although only containing low levels of pollutants this is a form of heat pollution and significant impacts on the local ecosystems are observed.