In comparison to coal-fired power plants, gas turbines produce less air pollution. This is because natural gas is used by almost all gas turbines. Since that natural gas is a clean fuel, it is the best fuel for gas turbines; however, some gas turbines use fuel from other sources such as biomass if it has been extensively cleaned before being burnt in a gas turbine.
Although gas turbines do not produce as much air pollution as coal-fired plants, they still emit dangerous substances that have a negative impact on our environment. Nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are all produced by gas turbines.
Nitrogen oxide provides the most harm to the environment. It is emitted during the combustion process. The temperature at which combustion takes place determine how much nitrogen oxide is emitted. Gas turbines will continue to emit nitrogen oxide affecting the environment due to the fact that the temperature of a gas turbine determines how efficient the turbine is. The more man increases the temperature at which combustion takes place in a gas turbine to improve its efficiency, the more nitrogen oxide will be emitted to the environment.
It is not possible for a gas turbine to function without producing carbon dioxide. However, the amount of carbon dioxide provided by gas turbines is nothing compared to the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a coal-fired power plant.
Gas turbines produce less carbon dioxide due to the fact that they use natural gas as their fuel. Natural gas is primarily made up of methane whose chemical composition is made up of one carbon atom and four hydrogen-carbon atoms. So when natural gas is burnt in a gas turbine, only one molecule of carbon dioxide with two molecule of water is released in the air. This is not the case with coal. Since that coal is primarily composed of carbon, when it burns only carbon is emitted. No water is emitted. If the combustion of natural gas is incomplete, it results in carbon monoxide and other particles which also have negative effects on our environment. Switching from a coal-fired power plant to gas turbines is advisable because gas turbines result in less population.