The carbon dioxide is usually released into the atmosphere where it contributes to the 'greenhouse effect' and increases the temperature of the earth. This will eventually lead to an increase in sea level caused by the thermal expansion of the seawater and to a lesser effect from icecap melting. It will also lead to a shift in the worlds weather and climate patterns. The burning of fossil fuels, especially coal, also releases large quantities of sulphur into the atmosphere. This sulphur combines with the water vapour to produce a solution of sulphuric acid which in turn falls to earth as 'acid rain'.
Acid rain has a detrimental effect on plant-life and hence on crop production.
To combat this, alternative methods of renewable energy are more advisable, especially those that do not involve the burning of fossil fuels. The heat is concentrated by mirrors and used to boil water to provide steam to power a turbine. The light is collected by a photovoltaic cell and converted directly into electricity. The advantages of this method are the simplicity and the cleanliness but the disadvantages are the initial cost plus the possible lack of sunshine. Click on the sun to go to an informative site on solar power in the U.K. BioEnergy involves obtaining energy from plant materials.