Power Generation and Its Impacts on the Environment

Abstract

Power generation is the means of generating power supply into the society. This paper tells how power is being generated from various sources (nuclear, coal, solar, wind, natural gas, water, geothermal, biomass), its major impacts on the society and the possible solution to problems that arise from the process of power generation through the various means considered. The various methods of generating power, no matter how beneficial, still have one or two short-comings which might constitute threat to the peaceful coexistence of living things in the environment. Some of these shortcomings are considered in this paper with possible solutions suggested. Over-aged transmission and distribution lines, unequal phase loads, etc. contribute to electrical power losses in transmission and distribution in Nigeria. To solve these problems, control measures such as introducing more substations, implementing pre-paid metering systems, using conductors of appropriate sizes and re-aligning the lines are suggested. In order to ensure sustainable power generation, foreign participation based on experience should be encouraged in the Nigerian power sector, the sources of fuel for electricity generating stations should be diversified, etc.