Disadvantages of thermal power plants

This post is a continuation of my previous article on Steam (Thermal) power Plant

1. The fuel (coal) needed may be exhausted by gradual use.
2. Efficiency of the plant decreases with time.
3. It cannot be used as peak load plant, as its part load efficiency decreases very rapidly with decreasing load.
4. Transportation of fuel is one of the major difficulties for the plants located away from coal fields.
5. Power generation cost is considerably high compared with hydro plant.
6. Air pollution causing smoke in the surrounding atmosphere is a major problem with thermal plant.
7. Life of the plant is hardly 3 to 4 decades compared with hydro-plant (1 to 2 centuries).