| Energy Source |
Pros |
Cons |
Lifetime Carbon Emissions (G/KWH) |
 Coal |
- Widely available and accessible, particular in U.S. and China
- Low fuel costs and electricity costs compared to other fossil fuels.
- Emissions controllable at source although at higher costs
|
- Emits high CO₂ and other greenhouse gases; major contributor to global warming
- Significant direct and indirect environmental impacts (mining, burning, ash storage, air quality)
- Cost will continue to rise over time
- Aging grid requires massive infusion of funds to upgrade
|
1,006 |
 Oil |
|
- Non-renewable fuel supply
- Environmentally damaging extraction and manufacturing processes
- Damaging greenhouse gas emissions; contributor to global warming
|
742 |
 Natural Gas |
- Cleaner burning than other fossil fuels (coal or oil)
- Responsive to peak energy demands
- Rapid production start-up or shutdown times
|
- Non-renewable fuel
- Limited resource with high transportation costs and vulnerable supply lines
- Requires extensive infrastructure to transport and store
|
466 |
 Nuclear |
- Operates 24/7
- Refuels every 18 months
- Cost per kilowatt-hour equal to or less than coal-fired plants (subsidized)
- Technology improving, with more efficient burn and fewer residual materials to handle
|
- Requires extensive infrastructure and high construction costs
- Unresponsive to peak demands; high production start-up or shutdown requirements
- Limited long-term fuel supply with spent fuel storage challenges
|
16-55 |
 Hydroelectric |
- Clean, renewable energy source
- Could be combined with other renewable (wind or solar) energy to recycle water again and again
|
- Limited future large scale opportunities in part due to environmental risk
- At risk as world water supply becomes constrained and global warming shifts supply
- Extensive infrastructure costs, including ongoing maintenance
|
18 |
 Geothermal |
- Renewable resource
- Versatile
- Can be decentralized (heat pump technology), but with limited applications
|
- Limited expansion opportunities with current technologies
- Extensive, expensive infrastructure requirements
- High water consumption
|
15 |
 Wind |
- Free, renewable resource; manufactured energy
- Low water use
- Extremely low lifetime emissions
- Easily turned off to manage grid overload
|
- Intermittent source: only about 30 percent available
- May require extensive, costly transmission grid upgrades to be viable part of national energy supply
- Generation times not closely matched with use requirements
|
14 |
 Solar PV |
- Free, renewable resource; manufactured energy
- Extremely low lifetime emissions
- Meets peak power profile
- Minimal maintenance
- a-Si solar PV offers a balance-of-system advantage and is suitable for commercial and utility applications
|
- Intermittent source; variable by location
- Must be adopted on large scale to be price competitive
- Variable conversion efficiencies
|
17-39 |
