Pros and cons of coal as an energy solution
Although coal is not used today to heat homes and factories, its use is entirely similar to what it has been for generations: as fuel. Only this time, the coal is used to generate electricity, which is then transmitted through power lines to heat homes and factories, and in ways too many to count. Even in this nuclear age, coal accounts for 49% of all electricity generated in the United States and 40% of world production.
The expenditure of coal to produce electricity is simply a recent development in the history of coal use. From prehistoric times when the first humans discovered that certain black rocks could burn, to the Hopi Indians during the 1300s who used charcoal for cooking, heating and making pottery, to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s powered by coal and steam engines, the charcoal has been an integral component. 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 that certain steps are taken to clean up processes. Here are some of the pros and cons of coal as an energy solution:
Pros
1. Availability: the greatest benefit that coal has 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 for more than 130 years. Even considering the increase in consumption rates of around 2-3% per year, the reserves should last for more than half a century. In addition, it is easier to determine its location and extract the mineral using existing technologies than with other energy sources.
2. Price: Coal is one of the cheapest sources of energy 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 huge upfront investments.
3. Safety: Compared to nuclear energy, thermal energy or electricity generated from coal is considered much safer. Thermal power plant accidents will not cause an incident as extensive 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 it burns. In combination with water vapor, they cause acid rain that is harmful to plants and animals.
2. Global warming: Coal is a form of carbon that, when burned, produces carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a powerful gas that, when present in the atmosphere, traps the earth’s radiation and heats the earth in a circumstance known as global warming. This has long-term effects on the climate and biodiversity.
Several steps are being taken to address both of these issues. Today, with current technology, it is possible to filter 99% of the minute particles and remove more than 95% of the pollutants from acid rain in coal. “Clean coal” technologies are here to stay.