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what are pros and cons for coal

by Ms. Pamela Goyette V Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Pros: High quantity available to use as a fuel for combustion for locomotion and generating electricity. Coal is one of the most plentiful resource in the world.
  • Pros: Relatively cheap due to the large amount of coal available and coal are easy to access.
  • Pros: Large amount of electricity can be produce using coal at low price.
  • Pros: Coal power plants can be built anywhere in the world.
  • Pros: Coal is also very versatile, it can be burn and it can be transformed into liquid or gas.

Top 10 Coal Pros & Cons – Summary List
Pros of CoalCons of Coal
Cheap energy sourceNot green
Reliable energyNot sustainable nor renewable
Abundance of coalGlobal warming
Mature technologyAir pollution
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Full Answer

What are the advantages of using coal?

The advantages of using coal:

  • Coal is an inexpensive form of energy.
  • There is lots of coal available in mines around the world, which helps to make the supply of coal stable.
  • Coal is also reliable to produce because it is such an established industry.
  • Large amounts of electricity can be produced using coal, so it is able to meet increasing energy demands.

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What are disadvantages of the use of coal for energy?

DisadvantagesCoal energy produces a lot of carbon-dioxide which leads to global warming and climate change. • The burning of the coal is not friendly to the environment because it makes up harmful byproducts and gas emissions such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide which causes pollution to the environment and could lead to acid rain.

What are the pros and cons of coal energy?

Pros: Large amount of electricity can be produce using coal at low price. Pros: Coal power plants can be built anywhere in the world. Pros: Coal is also very versatile, it can be burn and it can be transformed into liquid or gas. Cons: Produce large amount of pollution, the dirtiest source of electricity comes from coal according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

What are the pros and cons of coal mining?

The Pros of Coal Mining

  1. It is inexpensive to mine coal. In order for an economy to grow, it needs to have a source of power that is affordable to access. ...
  2. Coal stores safely. Unlike other fuel sources, coal stores very safely and in large quantities. ...
  3. It creates jobs.

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What are the pros to coal?

Advantages of CoalHuge Global Reserves.Not an Intermittent Energy Source.Reliable Fuel.Inexpensive Energy Source.Independent of the Weather.Plenty of Applications.Compatible With Other Energy Sources.Creates Jobs.More items...•

What are the cons of coal?

ConsCoal is nonrenewable. ... Coal contains the most CO2 per BTU, the largest contributor to global warming.Severe environmental, social and health and safety impacts of coal mining.Devastation of environment around coal mines.High cost of transporting coal to centralized power plants.More items...•

What are 3 cons of using coal?

Disadvantages of Using Coal EnergyIt is Nonrenewable. ... Harmful to Health. ... It Causes Noise Pollution. ... It is Harmful to Natural Habitat and Environment. ... It Creates a High Level of Radiation. ... High Carbon Emissions. ... Deadly Energy Source. ... Displaces Human Settlements.

What are 2 cons of coal?

Why is coal so bad for the planet?Mining coal is incredibly destructive to the environment. ... Coal is actually radioactive. ... Burning coal emits harmful substances. ... Coal generates carbon emissions. ... Coal mining and combustion contributes to climate change. ... Coal is a non-renewable energy source. ... Coal mining is a dangerous industry.More items...•

Why is coal not good?

Along with adding to greenhouse gas pollution, burning coal emits toxic and carcinogenic substances into our air, water and land, severely affecting the health of miners, workers and surrounding communities.

Is coal good for the environment?

Coal and fuel oil combustion emit fly ash particles into the atmosphere, which contribute to air pollution problems. Upon burning, coal produces a number of gaseous byproducts, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and methane gas, all of which contribute to global climate change.

What are 3 facts about coal?

Coal: Fast Facts About CoalTotal demand for U.S. coal reached 1.05 billion tons in 2010.33% of U.S. electricity is generated from coal.9 out of every 10 tons of coal mined each year in the U.S. is used for domestic electricity generation.Each person in the U.S. uses 3.4 tons of coal annually.More items...

Is coal cheap or expensive?

Of all the fossil-fuel sources, coal is the least expensive for its energy content and is a major factor in the cost of electricity in the United States.

What are the cons of oil?

Cons of Oil EnergyOil is non-Renewable. ... Oil is Not Good for the Environment. ... The Oil Industry corruption. ... Oil is Dangerous Work. ... Oil Fumes are Bad for Our Health. ... Acid Rain. ... Oil can Create Harmful Products. ... Drilling can be Dangerous.

What are 3 facts about coal?

Coal: Fast Facts About CoalTotal demand for U.S. coal reached 1.05 billion tons in 2010.33% of U.S. electricity is generated from coal.9 out of every 10 tons of coal mined each year in the U.S. is used for domestic electricity generation.Each person in the U.S. uses 3.4 tons of coal annually.More items...

What are the negative effects of coal?

Another big downside of coal is that in the energy production process, large amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted into the air. In turn, this contributes to global warming and the related horrible effects.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal?

Advantages & Disadvantages of Coal. Coal is one of the most important energy sources in order to meet our global energy demand. It has been used over the past decades and significantly improved our overall wealth. However, coal also has many serious downsides. In this article, the pros and cons related to the use of coal are examined in detail.

What are the issues with coal?

Another big issue not only from coal but also from other fossil fuels is that the use of those fossil fuels leads to heavy dependence on other countries. Coal exporting countries are in a quite comfortable position since they have plenty of coal to export.

Why is coal used as a natural shield?

Our ozone layer can be regarded as natural shield in order to protect us and the local flora and fauna from excessive sunlight and radiation.

What is the effect of burning coal?

The burning of coal implies the emission of many harmful gases into our atmosphere.

How does coal affect biodiversity?

Biodiversity loss. Through global warming, mining practices and other issues related to the use of coal as energy source , the overall level of biodiversity will decline significantly. This is especially true in areas where excessive mining is executed in order to extract large amounts of coal.

What are the advantages of coal?

One advantage of coal is that it is a rather cheap source of energy. Since plenty of research has been done on coal, processes have been optimized over time and the efficiency has been increased significantly over the past decades. Thus, it is possible to produce energy from coal at a low cost per energy unit.

What are the effects of coal combustion?

Environmental pollution:Combustion of coal produce mercury, heavy metal, nitrous oxide and other pollutants which have a negative impact on the environment. The gases emitted can lead to the creation of acid rain.

How does coal reduce emissions?

Use of coal with other renewable energy reduce emission:Incorporating biomass technology and coal facility into the same power plant allow dual fuel source. This ensures the little amount of coal used reduce the amount of ash and carbon dioxide produced in the burning process. 8.

Why is coal a good energy source?

1. High load factor: Coal offers continuous energy supply. Various infrastructures are designed to utilize inexpensive coal energy with high load factor. This makes it an efficient and predictable source of energy.

How does coal mining destroy habitats?

7. Destruction of natural habitats:Fire from the burning coal cause underground burning. The open-cast method for coal mining destroys local animal habitats and deforestation.

How long does coal last?

Large global reserves:The estimated coal reserves is more than 1 trillion and can last for more than 400 years based on the current consumption levels. 9. A reliable source of energy:Coal can be burned 24/7 making it a reliable source of energy.

Is coal energy sustainable?

Coal energy is more sustainable compared to other fossil fuels which will not last a century. 3. Cost-effective:Capital investment in coal technology is relatively low compared to other fuel sources. The low cost of the fuel resources produces a relatively inexpensive power for consumption. 4.

Is coal a renewable resource?

Image source: theenrgymix.com. Coal energy is a non-renewable source of energy used to generate electricity. Coal is an affordable and number one source of energy for manufacturing plants and home appliances. There is an abundant supply of coal energy which is easy to extract and burn.

How does coal mining affect the environment?

Coal mining and coal use has historically had a negative impact on the environment, particularly by creating harmful gases including carbon dioxide and methane. The coal industry is working to improve these detrimental effects.

How does coal reduce CO2?

Coal-fired power plants can reduce CO2 emissions by capturing the gas and injecting it into deep geological formations for storage. Mining also produces methane gas, which has a much greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Using technological advances, the industry has been successful in recovering the methane and preventing it from releasing it into the atmosphere. According to the Internation Energy Agency (IEA), replacing older coal-fired power plants with more efficient plants could significantly reduce the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the metals that coal mines use to pollute water?

Water: Acid mine drainage, a metal-containing water that is formed by the chemical reaction between water and rocks containing sulphur-bearing minerals, can pollute water around a coal mine with heavy metals including copper, lead and mercury . Methods coal companies can use to minimize water pollution include building specialized water treatment plants and recycling contaminated water.

How can coal companies reduce water pollution?

Methods coal companies can use to minimize water pollution include building specialized water treatment plants and recycling contaminated water. Plants and animals: Coal mining, particularly surface mining, can disturb land that is used for grazing, animal habitats, forests, crops and more.

Does mining produce methane?

Mining also produces methane gas , which has a much greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Using technological advances, the industry has been successful in recovering the methane and preventing it from releasing it into the atmosphere.

What are the pros and cons of coal?

List of Pros of Coal Energy. 1. Abundance of Coal Supply. The presence of coal in every continent and over seventy nations around the world has enabled the supply almost eternal in nature. In fact, the highest reserves are found in China, India, Russia, and the United States. At the same time, the generation of coal energy can be done 24 hours ...

What are the main concerns of coal?

1. Emission of Greenhouse Gases. One of the leading concerns that involve coal energy is the emission of greenhouse gasses. In fact, it releases carbon dioxide as sequestered from dead plants and animals millions of years ago. The process transfers carbon to the environment which leads to the effect of global warming.

Why is coal important?

In fact, it has been a primary choice to build power plants around the world due to its low cost and abundance. Apart from being an important source of energy, it is also an essential raw material for the creation of steel and cement. Likewise, this is also used in other industries, including aluminum, chemical, paper and transportation. Nevertheless, the production of energy using coal has resulted to the emission of carbon.

What is the impact of coal mining on the environment?

This has included but not limited to the destruction of scenery in the area. This will led to the pollution of water and air as well as the elimination of trees.

Why is coal used in electricity?

The use of coal energy is essential for electricity production , powering homes and businesses on a daily basis. Of course, due to the affordability of coal, many industrial and manufacturing plants utilize this concept to generate electricity. More so, even with the non-renewable nature of coal, there is a lavish amount of this type ...

How long will coal last?

In comparison to other fossil fuels such as oil and gas, the potential of coal energy is very large. In fact, the global reserve of coal has been estimated to reach around a trillion tons. For this reason, it can be last up to two hundred years at the current rates of consumption.

Is coal a source of energy?

Nevertheless, the production of energy using coal has resulted to the emission of carbon.

What are the pros and cons of coal?

Pros & Cons Of Coal Energy. A combustible, sedimentary rock, coal is one of the main sources of energy production around the world. Coal energy is generated when the fossil fuel is burned to generate heat and produce steam, which spins turbine generators that produce electricity. Along with the steam engine, coal energy helped stimulate ...

What are the drawbacks of coal?

The major disadvantage of coal is its negative impact on the environment. Coal-burning energy plants are a major source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions .

How did coal help the Industrial Revolution?

Along with the steam engine, coal energy helped stimulate and sustain the Industrial Revolution. Accounting for approximately 40 percent of energy production in the United States, coal has benefits as well as shortcomings. Benefits of Coal. Coal energy has three main advantages when compared to other sources of renewable and nonrenewable energy.

How does coal power work?

Through a liquefaction process, coal can be converted into liquid hydrocarbons and synthetic gas that burn cleaner and produce few er harmful emissions.

What will happen to coal in the future?

The future of coal will depend upon the use of low-sulfur varieties, advances in clean coal technologies and sourcing of lower-cost alternatives. While the disadvantages will lower demand for coal energy over time, the lack of a cost-effective alternative should keep this fossil fuel in demand for many years to come.

What are the benefits of coal?

Benefits of Coal. Coal energy has three main advantages when compared to other sources of renewable and nonrenewable energy. It is abundant , relatively inexpensive and requires lower capital expenditures to construct a coal-burning power plant. Found in more than 70 countries around the world, coal reserves are estimated at close to 1 trillion tons.

How does coal mining affect the environment?

Mining coal destroys habitats and has other negative effects on the environment like water pollution from the runoff. Coal mining also causes a large number of injuries and deaths each year. Fires in connected mine shafts are difficult to locate and extinguish.

Why is coal bad for the environment?

For the reason that the coal contains a high amount of carbon dioxide that releases, the condition of the environment can be at risk and the energy released by the coal can be the reason to the damage of the environment.

Why is coal made?

The coal is being made for beneficial purposes. And coal is made to help our lives be easier and work faster. Here are the advantages that the coal is offering.

Is coal a disadvantage?

The coal is not about only for its, but it has a disadvantage that we need to learn about. These will be the guide of us to benefits and widely awaken to the use, function, and existence of coal.

Is coal a solid?

Coal is primarily called to be a carbon-rich solid material. Even though the coal encompasses a high amount of carbon, it also contains hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and Sulphur.

Is coal a solid or a liquid?

The coal is mostly referring to a sedimentary rock, and it can be usually formed as brownish-black or a combustible black sedimentary rock that can characteristically be scorched as a solid fossil fuel. Coal is made for having a high amount of carbon.

What are the pros and cons of coal mining?

8 Pros and Cons of Coal Mining. Coal mining (quite literally) helped to build America into the global force it is today. This fossil fuel was an essential part of the Industrial Revolution in the US, and a big part of transforming this nation from an agrarian powerhouse to a much more industrialized nation. When electricity was first discovered (by ...

How does coal mining affect the environment?

2. Heat from the coal produced in these mines contributes directly to greenhouse gasses responsible for global warming. 3.

Is coal a renewable resource?

Coal deposits will eventually run out completely and when that happens it’ll take millions and millions of years to create new ones. This is not a renewable resource by any stretch of the imagination, which means coal mining has a finite ( though distant) expiration date. All things considered, there are a lot of pros and cons to the process ...

Is coal safe to store?

Coal also happens to be very stable and safe to store, something that cannot be said about major power sources and fuels like nuclear material, for example. 3. Coal mining operations (and all of the ancillary support industries) provide millions and millions of jobs all over the world. 4. Coal mining states with large supplies ...

Is coal mining harmful?

1. Coal mining operations have been proven out to be very damaging to the local environment and ecosystems, and strip mining scars will be seen on this planet for decades and decades to come

Is coal mining going anywhere?

It’s a bit of a Catch-22 scenario, but coal mining and the coal mining industry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

What happens when coal is burned?

When coal is burned it pollutes the air. Greenhouse gasses produced cause global warming and toxins released by burning coal can harm people and the environment.

What is the byproduct of burning coal?

The solid byproduct of burning coal, ash, can be disposed of and can pose an environmental hazard.

Why is mining dangerous?

Mining is dangerous. Many miners are killed every year in accidents due to unsafe conditions. Coal emissions are linked to increased rates of asthma and lung cancer.

Where is coal plentiful?

Coal is plentiful in many places and it is easy to access through mining, so people rely on it to produce energy. It is an abundant supply concentrated in industrialized countries (US, Russia, China, India).

Is coal a good source of energy?

The process of mining it and converting it to energy has been perfected over many years. However, there are cons to using coal as a source of energy.

Is coal a fossil fuel?

Coal is one of the most plentiful and least expensive fossil fuels in the world. Coal is readily available in most of the developing and developed world, and it has been used as a major source of fuel even in ancient human civilizations. It also found its use in historic steam engines at the dawn of the industrial revolution. The availability and affordability of this fuel source, however, come with trade-offs regarding its effects on the environment, particularly the atmosphere. In this article, we overview the coal energy pros and cons to think about. Read this new blog in Linquip to find out more about them.

Can methane be used as a substitute for natural gas?

Methane released during coal mining can be collected and used as a substitute for natural gas, making it easier for areas without access to natural gas or other types of renewable resources to meet their energy needs.

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