Coal is a major energy source.
Coal is a reliable and affordable energy source. It has been a vital energy source since the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. As of 2010, coal is the most commonly used fuel for generating electricity around the world. It is also an important ingredient in the manufacturing industry.
Formation of Coal
A fossil fuel, coal is formed by the geological action over millions of years. About 300 million years ago plants perished in vast swamp areas. The weight of the top layers of water and dirt generated heat and put pressure on the lower layers of plant matter over a prolonged period of time. The decayed plants and animals dried and hardened to form carbon-rich coal.
Coal in Power Generation
Coal is important resource in the power-generating sector. As of 2004, approximately 40 percent of the world's electricity was made from coal and countries such as the United States and Germany relied on it to produce more than half their electricity. According to the Secondary Energy Infobook, 92.9 percent of all the coal in the United States was used for electricity production in 2008. Other countries such as Australia and China generate more than 75 percent of their electricity needs from burning coal.
Coal in Industry
Coal is used as a fuel for manufacturing. It is a key ingredient in manufacturing products such as tar, synthetic rubber, petroleum and steel. The iron industry uses coke ovens to melt iron ore. This is an almost pure carbon residue of coal and is used as a fuel in smelting metals. Then these coals are transported around the world for use in coke ovens. Other industries, such as those that produce paper, brick, limestone and cement, use coal to manufacture products. Some ingredients that are separated coal (such as methanol and ethylene) are used to manufacture plastics, fertilizers, synthetic fibers, tar and medicines.
Advantages of Using Coal
Coal is an abundant energy source. As of 2010, it is still inexpensive in comparison with other fossil fuels and alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power.
Use of Clean Coal Technology
One of the major disadvantages of using coal is that the combustion of coal is a major source of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Clean coal technology helps in reducing air emissions and other pollutants from power plants that use coal for power generation. Some companies are using innovate techniques to clean coal and reduce emissions. According to John Riddle, author of "Coal Power of the Future," an example is the Polk Power Plant in Tampa, Florida, which uses specialized equipment to process coal before generating power from it. As a result, this power plant generates 85 percent less nitrogen dioxide and 32 percent less sulfur dioxide than other power plants.
Tags: energy source, used fuel, around world, coal Coal, Coal Power
