A cheap, ubiquitous and flexible fuel, with just one problem
WHAT more could one want? It is cheap and simple to extract, ship and burn. It is abundant: proven reserves amount to 109 years of current consumption, reckons BP, a British energy giant. They are mostly in politically stable places. There is a wide choice of dependable sellers, such as BHP Billiton (Anglo-Australian), Glencore (Anglo-Swiss), Peabody Energy and Arch Coal (both American).
Other fuels are beset by state interference and cartels, but in this industry consumers—in heating, power generation and metallurgy—are firmly in charge, keeping prices low. Just as this wonder-fuel once powered the industrial revolution, it now offers the best chance for poor countries wanting to get rich.
Such arguments are the basis of a new PR campaign launched by Peabody, the world’s largest private coal company (which unlike some rivals is profitable, thanks to its low-cost Australian mines). And coal would indeed be a boon, were it not for one small problem: it is devastatingly dirty. Mining, transport, storage and burning are fraught with mess, as well as danger. Deep mines put workers in intolerably filthy and dangerous conditions. But opencast mining, now the source of much of the world’s coal, rips away topsoil and gobbles water. Transporting coal brings a host of environmental problems.
The increased emissions of carbon dioxide from soaring coal consumption threaten to fry the planet, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reminded everyone in a new report this week (see article). The CO2makes the oceans acid; burning coal also produces sulphur dioxide, which makes buildings crumble and lungs sting, and other toxic chemicals. By some counts, coal-fired power stations emit more radioactivity than nuclear ones. They release tiny, lethal particulates. Per unit generated, coal-fired stations cause far more deaths than nuclear ones, and more even than oil-fired ones.
But poverty kills people too, and slow growth can cost politicians their jobs. Two decades of environmental worries are proving only a marginal constraint on the global coal industry. Some are trying to get out: in America Consol Energy is selling five mines in West Virginia to concentrate on shale gas. Big coal-burners such as American Electric Power and Duke Energy are shutting coal-fired plants. Yet despite America’s shale-gas boom, the federal Energy Information Administration reckons that by 2040 the country will still be generating 22% of its electricity from coal (compared with 26% now). The International Energy Agency has even predicted that, barring policy changes, coal may rival oil in importance by 2017. As countries get richer they tend to look for alternatives—China is scrambling to curb its rising consumption. But others, such as India and Africa, are set to take up the slackÂ
The Latest on: Coal
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Coal” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Coal
- Coal Ridge boys win, girls fall in Saturday home stand against Moffat Countyon February 5, 2023 at 8:15 am
The Coal Ridge girls and boys managed a split in Saturday afternoon’s basketball contests against the visiting Moffat County Bulldogs. The girls led off the matinee action at Peach Valley by coming up ...
- KCR calls for govt of farmers, says water 'wars' between states being encouraged; slams Centre over coal import and 'love' for Adanion February 5, 2023 at 8:04 am
Read more about KCR calls for govt of farmers, says water 'wars' between states being encouraged; slams Centre over coal import and 'love' for Adani on Devdiscourse ...
- Despite billions to get off coal, why is Indonesia still building new coal plants?on February 5, 2023 at 8:01 am
World leaders recently announced a $20 billion deal to help get Indonesia off coal power. But there are doubts about the deal, because -for one thing- the country is building brand new coal plants.
- Current Climate: Report Finds That Replacing Coal Plants With Renewables Saves A Lot Of Moneyon February 4, 2023 at 5:00 am
This week’s Current Climate, which every Saturday brings you the latest news about the business of sustainability.
- Why Black workers are the canary in the coal mine for the U.S. economyon February 3, 2023 at 11:04 am
Watching the employment data for Black workers can give a closer look at the relative strength of the U.S. economy ...
- Germany's HH2E, brown coal firm Leag agree on green hydrogen cooperationon February 3, 2023 at 4:44 am
German energy firm HH2E and brown coal miner and power generator Leag plan to cooperate on green hydrogen plants at sites in the eastern German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, the ...
- Inside The Audacious Plan To Use 10,000 Nuclear Microreactors To Wean The World Off Coalon February 3, 2023 at 2:30 am
Bret Kugelmass of Last Energy aims to build his first ten inexpensive, off-the-shelf fission reactors in eastern Europe.
- Germany Studies Tapping Coal-Exit Funds for Defense Projectson February 3, 2023 at 12:41 am
Germany is considering re-routing existing subsidies for eliminating coal-fired power plants to help defense manufacturers build new production facilities, according to people familiar with the matter ...
- Japan's Idemitsu Kosan to sell Australia coal mine to Thungela for $240 mlnon February 3, 2023 at 12:27 am
Japan's Idemitsu Kosan Co has agreed to sell its 85% stake in the Ensham coal mine in Australia to a Thungela Resources subsidiary, Sungela Pty, for an upfront payment of A$340 million ($240 million), ...
- New Wind and Solar Are Cheaper Than the Costs to Operate All But One Coal-Fired Power Plant in the United Stateson February 2, 2023 at 12:14 am
A coal-fired plant near Gillette, Wyoming stands alone in the nation on one measure of economic viability—a positive distinction for that plant, but a damning one for coal-fired electricity in ...
via Bing News