Coal

Consumption of Coal
Worldwide- 539.247 Quadrillion BTUs
United States- 20 Quadrillion BTUs
North Carolina- 501 trillion BTUs
Future Supply Estimates (50 years into the future)
The future supply estimates of American production vary. For most of the Appalachian
area, the estimated coal production in 50 years is 300 million tonnes.
Energy Generation from Coal
Coal is first turned into a fine powder
Used to create heat in the Firebox
Steam is created
Immense pressure turn turbine
When the turbine turns, energy is created in the generator.
Steam is cooled and turned into water for future use.
Pros and Cons of Coal Cons
Coal is nonrenewable. There is a finite supply.
Pros Coal contains the most CO2 per BTU, the largest
Abundant supply, concentrated in industrialized contributor to global warming.
countries (US, Russia, China, India). Severe environmental, social and health and safety
Relatively inexpensive. impacts of coal mining.
Continuous power. Good utilization. High load Devastation of environment around coal mines.
factor. High cost of transporting coal to centralized power
Substantial existing infrastructure. Mature plants.
industry. Coal ash is a hazard and a disposal problem.
Can be made low carbon and clean with CCS and Coal mining is the second highest emitter of methane,
various scrubbers. a potent greenhouse gas.
Can be converted to a liquid or a gas, which burn High levels of radiation. Coal plants release more
cleaner. radiation than nuclear plants.
Clean coal technology is currently being used in Burning coal emits mercury and other heavy metals
China. that pose major health risks.
Relatively low capital investment (compared to Coal emissions linked to increased rates of asthma and
gas or nuclear). lung cancer.
Resources
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226285370_Trends_
in_US_Recoverable_Coal_Supply_Estimates_and_Future_Pro
duction_Outlooks
https://www.duke-energy.com/energy-education/how-energy-
works/electricity-from-coal