Re: Coal Burning Power Plant.

[Mayes Dave E <DEMAYES@dera.gov.uk>]

I have come in part way through this discussion so apologise for any
duplication in information.

Figures published in 1990 by Nuclear Electric plc in the UK gave the
following figures:-

A 2000 MW power station burns approximately 5,000,000 tons of coal each
year.  This produces

CO2				10,000,000 tons
Ash				  1,000,000 tons
Sulphuric Acid			     500,000 tons
			or
Gypsum			     500,000 tons
Hydrochloric acid		       60,000 tons

The desulphurisation plant to remove the sulphur dioxide from the
emissions will remove these wastes from the smoke but they still remain
on the station to be disposed of.  The overall cost of this is about 12%
on generation costs.

In addition to this, the burning of coal releases radium, uranium and
thorium to the environment.

The National Radiological Protection Board (another UK institution)
estimated that "the total radiation dose to the public is greater from a
coal fired power station than from a nuclear station"
(Ref: Coal Fired Power Stations.  Radiological Impact.  
WC CAMPLIN, NRPB 1980)

Dave Mayes
Senior Health Physicist
DRPS Alverstoke

Tel	02392 - 768140
Fax	02392 - 768150
E-mail	demayes@mail.dera.gov.uk

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