Hello,
Today we're talking about coal and how it's used as an energy source. As you've probably already noticed we're not really big fans of coal. So this post is going to be looking into the pros and cons of coal as an energy source.
Today we're talking about coal and how it's used as an energy source. As you've probably already noticed we're not really big fans of coal. So this post is going to be looking into the pros and cons of coal as an energy source.
General facts
Coal is a black sedimentary rock, made of carbon and hydrocarbons, that is
found underground. It is formed by the remains of prehistoric plants and
animals being buried deep in the earth under the right pressure. Coal,
therefore, takes millions of years to form.
Pros
There are quite a few pros to using coal as an energy source. Firstly, it's
cheap with a low cost per energy unit. It is also reliable as it can be burned
at all times of day, during any weather and at any time of year. This is a big
advantage because a lot of renewables are weather-dependent (solar, wind,
...).
There is also currently an abundance of coal, enough to last a few hundred
years. It is also easy and safe to store, although there are worries regarding
air pollution.
The coal industry provides millions of people with jobs and provides countless
companies with their main energy source. These companies couldn't function as
effectively with renewables due to price differences. The coal industry also
creates large amounts of the power needed to meet global energy demands.
Cons
Even though we have enough coal to last 200 years, it will run out.
If we still rely on coal as primary energy source at the time coal becomes depleted, we as humanity will be in serious trouble.https://environmental-conscience.com/coal-pros-cons/
Coal is nonrenewable so it can never be a long-term solution. Another major
problem is air pollution. The combustion of coal leads to small particles in
the air we breathe. This bad air quality has been linked to asthma, cancer,
heart problems & neurological problems (https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/coal-and-air-pollution). The coal industry also produces large amounts of greenhouse gases, which
are released into the atmosphere (carbon dioxide and methane). It can also
lead to acid rain.
Here's a short explanation from
one of our previous posts:
It's formed by NOX & SO2 reacting with water and oxygen which will turn them into nitrous acid (HNO2), nitric acid (HNO3) & sulfuric acid (H2SO4), meaning that instead of rain being formed from just water, it is instead also mixed with acid. While acid rain won't harm you, it can harm aquatic ecosystems and forests. When the rain falls on water, it will mix with the water and over time acidify it. This will make it uninhabitable for animals and plants. When the rain falls on trees and plants, it will kill the trees by pulling life-depending nutrients from the soil and weakens the plants' natural defence systems.Acid rain could lead to crop failure which would cause global food shortages. Using coal also makes us very dependent on world market prices which will rise as coal supplies run short leading to even higher energy costs.
Another massive problem is that mining is necessary to extract coal. Mining
leads to habitat and biodiversity loss. People are relocated from their homes,
and the mining and transportation process produces even more greenhouse gases.
Ever so slightly radioactive waste is produced during coal mining. Although
most of this is caught by filters, small amounts of radioactive ash and dust
escape and are carried around by the wind. Even though this is currently
considered to not be a threat to humans, there are fears of an increase in
lung cancer.
Lastly, coal mines are very dangerous for workers and hundreds die every year.
There are also allegations of human rights abuse in coal mines in Pakistan.
Conclusion
In our opinion, coal is not a good idea. It may not be currently possible to
get rid of it completely, but we need more solutions. Coal is not only
dangerous to the environment, but it is also bad for our health.
We hope that we have given you some things to think about with regards to coal
and the use of it as an energy source. Thank you so much for being here and
taking the time to read this post, we hope it has been informative.
Your Green World Teamš
Sources:
https://environmental-conscience.com/coal-pros-cons/
https://energy4me.org/learn-about-energy/energy-sources/coal/
https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/coal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_electricity_by_source
https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/how-is-coal-formed/
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/coal-and-air-pollution
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15032022/coal-mining-methane/
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radioactive-wastes-coal-fired-power-plants
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/19/coal-workers-are-orphans-the-children-and-slaves-mining-pakistans-coal
Image: This image is owned by a blog editor.
https://environmental-conscience.com/coal-pros-cons/
https://energy4me.org/learn-about-energy/energy-sources/coal/
https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/coal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_electricity_by_source
https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/how-is-coal-formed/
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/coal-and-air-pollution
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15032022/coal-mining-methane/
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radioactive-wastes-coal-fired-power-plants
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/19/coal-workers-are-orphans-the-children-and-slaves-mining-pakistans-coal
Image: This image is owned by a blog editor.
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