Why Coal?

Coal has played a vital role in the world's energy mix for centuries, and even today, it remains a significant source of energy for many countries. In this blog, we will explore the reasons why coal is important to the world and the various ways in which it is used.

One of the primary reasons why coal is important is its abundance. Coal is found in many countries around the world and is relatively easy to extract from the ground. This means that it is a reliable source of energy that can be used to meet growing demand for electricity and other forms of energy. Additionally, coal is relatively cheap compared to other forms of energy, which makes it an attractive option for countries that are trying to keep energy costs low.

Another reason why coal is important is its versatility. Coal can be used for a variety of purposes, including electricity generation, heating, and transportation. For example, coal-fired power plants generate electricity by burning coal to produce steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity. Coal can also be used to produce heat for industrial processes and to power trains and other forms of transportation.

Coal is also important because it is a dependable source of energy. Unlike renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, coal can be stored and used whenever it is needed. This means that coal can be used to provide a reliable source of energy even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.

In addition to its importance as a source of energy, coal has played an important role in the development of modern industrial societies. The Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century, was powered in large part by coal. Coal was used to power steam engines, which were used to drive machinery and power factories. Without coal, it is likely that the Industrial Revolution would not have been possible, and our modern world would look very different.

One of the most significant benefits of coal is its contribution to energy security. Coal is a reliable source of energy that can be stored and transported easily, making it a popular choice for many countries. It is estimated that coal provides about 40% of the world's electricity generation, and it is the second-largest source of energy after oil.

Coal reserves are abundant and widely distributed across the world, with significant deposits found in China, the United States, India, Australia, and Russia. This makes coal an important energy source for countries that have limited access to other forms of energy, such as oil or natural gas. It also reduces dependence on foreign energy sources, which can be volatile and subject to price fluctuations.

Moreover, coal has played a critical role in helping to meet the energy demands of developing countries. Rapid economic growth and industrialization in countries like China and India have led to a significant increase in energy consumption, and coal has been the primary energy source to meet this demand. As these countries continue to grow, coal will likely remain an essential source of energy for them.

Many people incorrectly believe coal is heavily polluting the environment and have lobbied to phase out coal as an energy source.

Coal Power plants have installed scrubbers and other devices to capture undesirable atmospheric gasses that are stored away safely or converted to useful fertilizers.

Scrubbers are a commonly used technology in coal power plants to remove pollutants from the exhaust gases before they are released into the atmosphere. These pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and other harmful chemicals.

The scrubbers work by using a chemical process to absorb or react with the pollutants in the flue gas. The most common type of scrubber is a wet scrubber, which uses a liquid (usually water) to remove the pollutants. The flue gas is sprayed with the liquid, and the pollutants are absorbed into the liquid. The resulting wastewater is then treated to remove the pollutants before it is released into the environment.

Dry scrubbers are another type of scrubber that can be used in coal power plants. These use a dry sorbent (such as limestone or hydrated lime) to remove the pollutants from the flue gas. The sorbent is injected into the flue gas, and the pollutants react with the sorbent to form solid particles that are removed from the gas stream.

One promising technology that uses ammonia to remove pollutants from coal power plants is ammonia-based flue gas desulfurization (FGD). This technology involves injecting ammonia into the flue gas stream from the coal-fired power plant, where it reacts with sulfur dioxide (SO2) to form ammonium sulfate.

The ammonium sulfate can then be collected and sold as a fertilizer, which can help offset the cost of implementing the technology. In addition to removing SO2 emissions, ammonia-based FGD can also remove nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter from the flue gas stream.

Another technology that uses ammonia to remove pollutants from coal power plants is selective catalytic reduction (SCR). In SCR systems, ammonia is injected into the flue gas stream along with a catalyst, which converts nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen and water.

Overall, scrubbers are an important technology for reducing air pollution from coal power plants, and they have been shown to be effective in mitigating emissions of SO2, NOx, and PM.

Coal is an important energy source that is cheap, abundant, easy to access and reliable and is unlikely to be replaced anytime soon. We should thank our coal miners for the hard work they do to make our lives easier.