One method is carbon capture, which separates CO2 from emissions sources and recovers it in a concentrated stream. The CO2 can then be injected underground for permanent storage, or sequestration. Reuse and recycling can also reduce the environmental effects of coal production and use.

Burning coal also produces particulates that increase air pollution and health dangers. Burning coal emits large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These emissions have been shown to increase the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere and lead to global warming.

The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, increasing levels of CO2 and other gasses, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. Coal-fired power plants release more greenhouse gases per unit of energy produced than any other electricity source (1).

Coal is chemically complex fuel. Whenever it is burned, gases are given off and particles of ash, called “fly ash,” are released. The sulfur in coal combines with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide, which can be a major source of air pollution if emitted in large enough quantities.

carbon dioxide

(i) A coal or charcoal burns with just a glow red and gives out heat without flame however LPG burns with flame, this is because a flame is produced only when gaseous substances burn. A luminous flame is seen when the atoms of the gaseous substance are heated and start to glow.

Coal cleaning by ‘washing’ has been standard practice in developed countries for some time. It reduces emissions of ash and sulfur dioxide when the coal is burned. Electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters can remove 99% of the fly ash from the flue gases – these technologies are in widespread use.

Coal-fired power plants have been linked to developmental defects in 300,000 infants because of their mothers’ exposure to toxic mercury pollution. Asthma rates are skyrocketing in communities exposed to particulates from burning coal, and now one out of ten children in the U.S. suffers from asthma.

With its rapid decline in the United States and Europe, coal’s future will depend heavily on the small but significant group of countries – China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Vietnam – that account for 70% of global coal consumption and most of the world’s new coal power projects.

Cheapest source of energy. It is by far cheaper than nuclear, natural gas, oil. Coal also provides a stable source of energy (no Arab oil embargoes, no sudden scarcity like you experience with natural gas) and there is a very plentiful supply both in the U.S. and in other foreign countries.

Based on U.S. coal production in 2019, of about 0.706 billion short tons, the recoverable coal reserves would last about 357 years, and recoverable reserves at producing mines would last about 20 years. The actual number of years that those reserves will last depends on changes in production and reserves estimates.

In 2019, the national average sales price of bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coal at coal mines was $30.93 per short ton, and the average delivered coal price to the electric power sector was $38.53 per short ton.

Cheapest source of energy. It is by far cheaper than nuclear, natural gas, oil. Unlike other forms of energy (nuclear, natural gas, oil, hydroelectric), coal provides many jobs in removing coal from the earth, transporting it to the utility, burning it, and properly disposing of coal ash.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Coal Energy

• Coal energy is an affordable energy source because of the coal’s stable price compared to other fuel sources.
• Coal is easy to burn.
• Coal produces high energy upon combustion.
• Coal energy is inexpensive.
• Coal is abundant.
• Coal energy is a reliable energy source.

Here Are the Advantages of Coal

• It is available in an abundant supply.
• It has a high load factor.
• Coal offers a rather low capital investment.
• Carbon capture and storage technologies can reduce potential emissions.
• It can be converted into different formats.
• Coal can be used with renewables to reduce emissions.

What are the Positive and negative parts of using Coal as a source of energy? Coals major advantage is that it supplies us with electricity. The disadvantages of coal are the mining process (the way we get it out of the ground) and pollution that occurs when coal is burned.

The clearing of trees, plants, and topsoil from mining areas destroys forests and natural wildlife habitats. It also promotes soil erosion and flooding, and stirs up dust pollution that can lead to respiratory problems in nearby communities.

These impacts can be largely associated with water quality, physical and chemical land degradation, and air pollution through dust fall-out and emissions of particulate matter (PM) and toxic gases. In particular, AMD from coal mining results in significant pollution of land and water resources.

Dangers to miners. Historically, coal mining has been a very dangerous activity, and the list of historical coal mining disasters is long. The principal hazards are mine wall failures and vehicle collisions; underground mining hazards include suffocation, gas poisoning, roof collapse and gas explosions.

In the United States, coal accounts for roughly one-quarter of all energy-related carbon emissions.

The environmental challenges from coal mining include coal mine accidents, land subsidence, damage to the water environment, mining waste disposal and air pollution. These are either environmental pollution or landscape change. A conceptual framework for solving mine environmental issues is proposed.

Two main environmental concerns associated with the use of coal are: Pollution, caused by emissions of contaminants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury, which affects human and environmental health. Greenhouse gases, emissions of which contribute to global warming.

Petroleum (crude oil): Produces less CO2 emissions than coal during production. Scientists estimate that reserves may run out of oil in a century or two. Natural gas: The cleanest burning fossil fuel. It produces less CO2 than oil and coal.

Coal is the single biggest contributor to anthropogenic climate change. The burning of coal is responsible for 46% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and accounts for 72% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity sector.

Chronic inhalation of coal dust affects the lungs directly. People who are indirectly exposed to coal may be affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and respiratory infection. These diseases may occur due to inhalation of a diversity of environmental air pollutants.