Gas is a more expensive fuel but because of its flexibility for use and the lower capital cost for new plant then it can be more competitive than coal. Some renewable fuels are even cheaper than coal hence the investment in this can be justified. Since gas is a relatively clean fuel the handling and cleaning costs for this fuel are substantially less than coal. The burning of renewables has a high handling and cleaning cost but this can be compensated by the supply cost. Environmental benefits Conversion from coal to gas offers an instant improvement to the environment.
Gas has no ash content and very low sulphur content against coal.
There would be an instant local climate change by this conversion, and no lung damaging and cancer causing ash in the local environment or sulphuric acid produced from the exhaust stack. Using renewables is the best action available for power generation as the fuel used is compensated by the renewables by the renewables development. The CO 2 produced is absorbed at the same rate by the renewable source. Although gas is by far a more pleasant fuel to use than coal, the drive for conversion is slow. Only some sites will have a financial benefit from this change.