CoalCoal

Coal ProductionCoal Production

Coal ProductionCoal Production

Coal ConsumptionCoal Consumption

Coal TypesCoal Types

Soft Brown Coal (Lignite) inefficient Soft Brown Coal (Lignite) inefficient compared to hard black coal.compared to hard black coal.

Consumption of black coal has increased Consumption of black coal has increased whilst brown coal has remained constantwhilst brown coal has remained constant

Background InformationBackground Information

Coal provided the basis for the industrial Coal provided the basis for the industrial revolution.revolution.

Despite 2 centuries of exploitation there is Despite 2 centuries of exploitation there is still more still more economicallyeconomically recoverable recoverable reserves than the other 2 fossil fuels.reserves than the other 2 fossil fuels.

Improved technology has: increased the Improved technology has: increased the output per worker; made deeper mining output per worker; made deeper mining with fewer workers possible and has made with fewer workers possible and has made electricity conversion more efficient.electricity conversion more efficient.

Factors affecting mining and Factors affecting mining and productionproduction

Like oil, reserves vary in quality.Like oil, reserves vary in quality. Location relative to market.Location relative to market. Strip mining is cheapest so nearest to surface is best – Strip mining is cheapest so nearest to surface is best –

this destroys landscapes and in MEDCs the clean up this destroys landscapes and in MEDCs the clean up costs imposed on strip mining make it high, it is however costs imposed on strip mining make it high, it is however still cheaper than shaft mining.still cheaper than shaft mining.

The deeper the mine the more expensiveThe deeper the mine the more expensive Low grade coal usually found closer to the surface.Low grade coal usually found closer to the surface. Relative price of alternative fuelsRelative price of alternative fuels Transport costs- 40% of world train freight is coal.Transport costs- 40% of world train freight is coal.

Factors affecting mining and Factors affecting mining and productionproduction

Size of demand. Main markets are thermal Size of demand. Main markets are thermal power stations, steel and metallurgical power stations, steel and metallurgical industries.industries.

Therefore demand is greater in industrialised Therefore demand is greater in industrialised countries and the rapidly industrialisisng countries and the rapidly industrialisisng countries.countries.

Environmental costs and clean coal costs. Environmental costs and clean coal costs. Countries are looking to reduce air pollution and Countries are looking to reduce air pollution and clean coal is more expensive than gasclean coal is more expensive than gas

Decline in Coal miningDecline in Coal mining

Acute problem in Britain: 1947 958 Acute problem in Britain: 1947 958 collieries employing 718,400 miners - collieries employing 718,400 miners - 1994 19 collieries employing 10,800 1994 19 collieries employing 10,800 miners.miners.

This has caused devastating social and This has caused devastating social and economic problems for former mining economic problems for former mining towns and villagestowns and villages

Reasons for decline in coal in the Reasons for decline in coal in the UKUK

Most accessible deposits are used up.Most accessible deposits are used up. Costs have risen due to expensive machinery.Costs have risen due to expensive machinery. Seams are dangerous to mine.Seams are dangerous to mine. Decline in industrial demand e.g. steelDecline in industrial demand e.g. steel Electricity production has shifted to gasElectricity production has shifted to gas Over capacity in electricity generation due to increased Over capacity in electricity generation due to increased

efficiency.efficiency. Political decisions: subsidies to nuclear and a greater Political decisions: subsidies to nuclear and a greater

investment in gas.investment in gas. Environmental awareness – UK has strict carbon Environmental awareness – UK has strict carbon

reduction targets and is signed up to the Kyoto reduction targets and is signed up to the Kyoto agreement. agreement.

Undercut in price by Australian and US coal.Undercut in price by Australian and US coal. Energy needs leveling off with other fuels meeting the Energy needs leveling off with other fuels meeting the

small increases. small increases.

Consequences.Consequences. Serious unemployment e.g. South Yorkshire Serious unemployment e.g. South Yorkshire

where economy is dependent upon coal.where economy is dependent upon coal. Negative multiplier effect exacerbates the Negative multiplier effect exacerbates the

unemployment issue.unemployment issue. Sheers speed of closures meant finding jobs Sheers speed of closures meant finding jobs

impossible.impossible. Alternative jobs were low paid and skilled.Alternative jobs were low paid and skilled. Social stress and family and community break Social stress and family and community break

up as men lose role of “bread winner”up as men lose role of “bread winner” Rise in drugs and crime as younger generation Rise in drugs and crime as younger generation

have little work opportunitieshave little work opportunities

On the positive sideOn the positive side

Reduction of environmental damage and Reduction of environmental damage and land reclamation led to “greening” of the land reclamation led to “greening” of the area.area.

It prompted government grants which led It prompted government grants which led to spending on infra structure.to spending on infra structure.

For a minority redundancy money led to For a minority redundancy money led to self employment and better healthself employment and better health

Negative impacts of using Negative impacts of using coal as an energy sourcecoal as an energy source

In an average year a typical coal plant generates:In an average year a typical coal plant generates: 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human

cause of global warming--as much carbon dioxide as cutting cause of global warming--as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees.down 161 million trees.

10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs.particles that can penetrate deep into lungs.

500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic 500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility.haze obstructing visibility.

10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late-model cars. NOx leads to formation emitted by half a million late-model cars. NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.

In an average year a typical coal plant In an average year a typical coal plant generates:generates:

720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and 720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease.place additional stress on people with heart disease.

220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.form ozone.

170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited 170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.

225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion.people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion.

114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, 114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, and trace amounts of uranium.and trace amounts of uranium.

Other impactsOther impacts Waste products: solid waste, heat and cooling Waste products: solid waste, heat and cooling

waterwater Dangerous for minersDangerous for miners Impact of transportation and storageImpact of transportation and storage Strip mining destroys vegetation and is an eye Strip mining destroys vegetation and is an eye

soresore A typical 500-megawatt coal-fired power plant A typical 500-megawatt coal-fired power plant

draws about 2.2 billion gallons of water each draws about 2.2 billion gallons of water each year from nearby water bodies, such as lakes, year from nearby water bodies, such as lakes, rivers, or oceans, to create steam for turning its rivers, or oceans, to create steam for turning its turbines. This is enough water to support a city turbines. This is enough water to support a city of approximately 250,000 people. of approximately 250,000 people.