Although coal is not used today to heat homes and factories, its use is completely the same as it has been for generations: as a fuel. Only this time, coal is used for the generation of electricity, which is then transmitted through power lines to heat homes and factories, and in ways too diverse to count. Even in this nuclear age, coal accounts for 49% of all electricity generated in the United States and 40% of global production.
The use of coal to produce electricity is simply a recent development in the history of coal use. From prehistoric times when early humans discovered that certain black rocks could burn, to the Hopi Indians during the 13th century who used charcoal for cooking, heating, and pottery, to the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century fueled by coal and steam, coal has been an integral part of human development for millennia.
Despite the emergence of new technologies, coal as an energy solution is definitely an attractive proposition for the future, provided certain steps are taken to clean up the processes. We present here some of the pros and cons of coal as an energy solution:
advantage
1. Availability: The biggest benefit of coal as an energy solution is its existence. In 2006, the United States Energy Information Administration published figures of 930 billion short tons of recoverable coal reserves in the world. Of these, the United States has the maximum share of 27%.
At current levels of extraction and consumption, these should last more than 130 years. Even considering increasing rates of consumption of around 2-3% per year, the reserves should last more than half a century. In addition, it is easier to determine its location and extract the ore with existing technologies than with other energy sources.
2. Price – Coal is one of the cheapest energy sources available. In addition to its abundance, the method of generating electricity from coal is cheaper than alternatives such as nuclear and hydroelectric power. Although these alternatives may be less expensive in the long run, they require large initial investments.
3. Safety: Compared to nuclear power, thermal power or electricity generated from coal is considered much safer. Accidents at thermal plants will not cause an incident as expansive as the Chernobyl disaster.
Cons
1. Acid rain: Coal has many impurities, such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds, which are released into the atmosphere when burned. Combined with water vapor, they cause acid rain that is harmful to plants and animals.
2. Global warming: Coal is a form of carbon that burns to produce carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a powerful gas that, when present in the atmosphere, traps terrestrial radiation and warms the earth in a circumstance known as global warming. This has long-term effects on climate and biodiversity.
Various measures are being taken to address these two problems. Today, with today’s technology, it is possible to filter 99% of minute particles and remove more than 95% of acid rain contaminants from coal. “Clean coal” technologies are here to stay.
