COAL POWER

Its Benefits and Ill

Effects.
 What IS Coal

• Most people know coal as a fossil fuel which is used to produce

around 40 percent of the world's electricity.

•  It’s a flammable black or brown sedimentary rock, and is made

mostly of organic carbon.
 Types of Coal
•  There are actually two main types of coal:

1. ‘Thermal’ coal, which is mostly used for power generation.

2. ‘Metallurgical’ coal, which is mostly used for steel production. 

 Metallurgical coal
• Metallurgical coal, also called metcoal or coking coal, is a type
of coal that is used in the production of steel.

• It is of a higher purity than thermal coal which is used in energy

generation.

• To make steel, metcoal is heated at around 1100 degrees C to remove

water and other chemicals.
• Coal is also commonly used in cement manufacturing and as a
component of thousands of other products.

• Both types of coal are formed in a similar manner; from decomposed

vegetation that was compressed beneath layers of sand, sediment
and rock at high temperatures over millions of years.

• It’s typically found as layers (coal beds) or veins (coal seams) and in
Australia, coal is mined above and below the ground.
Annual Coal Production and Import (million
tons).
 How does coal make electricity?

Simply put, coal-fired electricity generation is a five-step process:

• Thermal coal (either black or brown) that has been pulverised to a fine powder is burned.

• The resulting heat is used to turn water into steam.

• The steam at very high pressure is then used to spin a turbine, connected to an electrical
generator.

• The spinning turbine causes large magnets to turn within copper wire coils; this is called the
generator.

• The moving magnets cause electrons in the wires to move from one place to another, creating
an electrical current and producing electricity.
Raw Coal usage (million tons, %)
 Benefits of Coal Power
• Cheapest source of energy.  It is by far cheaper than nuclear, natural gas, oil.  Hydro usually
will be slightly cheaper.  However,  problems with hydro include: no new facilities because
of public outcry when river valleys are dammed.

• Abundant supply, concentrated in industrialized countries (US, Russia, China, India).

• Continuous power. Good utilization. High load factor.

• Relatively low capital investment (compared to gas or nuclear).

• Can be made low carbon and clean with CCS and various scrubbers.

• Can be converted to a liquid or a gas, which burn cleaner.

 Ill effects of Coal Power
• Coal is nonrenewable. There is a finite supply.

• Coal mining is the second highest emitter of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

• High levels of radiation. Coal plants release more radiation than nuclear plants

• Coal burning releases Sox(sulfur oxides)  and Nox(nitrogen oxides) which both cause acid rain.

• Burning coal emits mercury and other heavy metals that pose major health risks.

• Coal emissions linked to increased rates of asthma and lung cancer.

Utilities Installed Capacity (GW,%)
Business Opportunities…..