Reduce Pollution
The UK average amount of Carbon Dioxide produced by power stations is 0.5kg per Kilowatt hour. A 3kWp Solar Electricity system will produce around 2400 Kilowatt hours of electricity a year, saving 1.1 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide a year (up to 1.5 Tonnes), based on the average of suppliers power. Carbon Dioxide is of course not the only problem, although is often the only one mentioned.
Pollution caused by Power Stations
Sulphur Dioxide
Sulphur Dioxide is a major cause of acid rain, which is harmful to aquatic life, humans, forests, soil, and all life. Acid rain can also damage buildings. SO2 in the air can cause breathing problems and aggravate heart disease, and when mixed with other air bourne chemicals produce sulphate particles which can cause respiratory diseases.
Acid rain changes the composition of soil, damages crops and forests, and turns lakes and streams acidic and unsuitable for fish.
NOx
NOx refers to the many forms of Nitrogen oxide that are produced from the high temperature burning of the fossil fuels. NOx is not good for human health and contributes to heart and lung problems. It is responsible for damaging the ozone layer which is what protects the earth from dangerous Ultra-violet light from the sun. It also causes acid rain.
NOx also mixes with organic chemicals to produce more toxic chemicals.
Particulates
Fine particulates are carried in the air and a large amount are produced by Nitrogen Oxide and Sulphur Dioxide. These are very fine particles that get right down deep into lungs of humans and animals and can cause illness and lung problems including cancer.
Ozone
Not to be confused with the ozone layer, Ozone is produced when NOx mixes with VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in the air which in turn cause more serious lung problems.
Nuclear power
When electricity is produced at Nuclear power stations, High Level nuclear waste is created which cannot be disposed of safely as the waste remains radioactive for thousands of years.
Carbon Dioxide
Increasing CO2 in the air caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas increase the greenhouse effect, which is global warming. The increasing temperature of the earth is causing ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise among other things. This is the greenhouse gas that is used as the measure of ones carbon footprint. Carbon Dioxide in the air is itself not harmful to humans directly, but humans could be directly affected by higher temperatures, with problems such as heat exhaustion and breathing problems for those who are more vunerable. Higher temperatures also cause there to be more harmful Ozone at ground level.