The Role of Coal as an Energy Source - Case Study Example

Running Head: COAL Coal Name Course Tutor Date Table of contents Executive summary.....................................................................................................................3 Introduction.................................................................................................................................3 World coal usage.........................................................................................................................4 World coal distribution...............................................................................................................5 Types and uses of coal................................................................................................................6 Coal research, concerns and future prospects.............................................................................7 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8 References...................................................................................................................................9 Executive summary Coal is one of the oldest fuels to be used by humans throughout history. It is a fossil fuel made from the remains of organic matter formed over millions of years. It is a non renewable source of energy. All living organisms store energy from the sun. When these living things die, the energy is released as the process of decaying takes place. However, in some cases under certain conditions, the process is interferes with and some of this energy is not realised. When organic matter settled in swamps, millions of years ago, piles and piles of sediments formed creating pressure and causing changes in chemical reactions. This way coal was formed over long periods of time. It has been put to many uses and it has also raised several health and environmental concerns. It is one of the most commonly used sources of energy in the world today. Introduction Throughout history, humanity has discovered coal and used it for many energy purposes. For instance, coal was a major fuel used during the industrial revolution in major industries in Europe and America. It was also used during war to run war machines and in smelting of weapons. Today the world owes a lot of innovations and advancements to coal. Even in the modern world, coal is still a major source of energy and is still widely used all over the world. Some of it major uses are heating in industrial furnaces, electricity generation, heating in homes among other uses. For instance, most of the electricity used for both industrial and domestic uses in Australia is coal generated. In the 1700s and 1800s, coal was used to run ships and steam engines all over the world (Freese, 2003). It was one of the major drivers of trade then as it enabled transportation through both water and rail. Coal forms a crucial part of trade both in Australia and internationally. Coal producing countries still export it to non coal producing nations or those that cannot keep up with the demand. For instance, coal trading forms a significant part of exports in the Australia economy. It is one of the oldest trade goods in the world that still has high significance in the modern world. This report will discuss the uses of coal its forms and the future of its mining and usage. Coal usage in the world Coal accounts for over 40% of world energy needs with some counties having much higher percentages. For instance 76% of Australian energy comes from coal 94% in Poland, 92% in South Africa and 77% in china (World Coal Institute, 2006). The growth of the industry in recent years has been so fast that it has surpassed that of oil nuclear and gas. Not only has coal served as a source of electricity in many countries, it has been used to smelt metals and production of products such as cement. It is eminent that coal has played a significant role in shaping humanity and still continues to do. With the world energy needs growing rapidly, coal mines are significantly educing as mining intensifies. Coal is a non renewable source of energy. The coal we use nowadays was formed millions of yeas ago. scientist say that the formation of coal started in a period known as the carboniferous era that too place over 300 million years ago. Coal has different qualities depending on the pressure and temperature under which it is formed. The time of formation also determines the quality as well (World coalInstitute, 2003). World coal distribution According to the World Coal Association there are coal deposits in almost every country in the world. The current coal deposits can last the entire world for over a hundred years. This is higher than that of oil which is estimated to last another 50 years at current production and growth rates. The highest coal deposits are found in North America and the former Soviet Union. China, Asia, Africa and India also have significant amounts of coal deposits. The extractability and accessibility of these deposits vary from region to region. There are coal deposits that are not reachable using current technology and are not termed as feasible. With wide spread mining of coal all over the world, the production rate compared to reserves has fallen significantly. This is because coal is a non renewable source of energy and it will at one time become exhausted. The ‘peak coal’ is a point where production of coal globally will reach a maximum and will start declining in a non reversible manner (World Coal Oraganisation, 2013). Concerns have been raised over the peak being reached by scientists have argued that there me be more unexplored coal deposits in the world. At one point in time, al fossil fuels will run out but if current research and exploration technologies are improved, there is a possibility of extending the exhaustion time for coal. The exploration of coal takes several processes before reserves are discovered. Geochemical and geophysical studies are carried out on regions before the drilling process begins. The drilling process gives a clear picture of what lies underneath and only then can mining begin (World Coal Institute, 2001). This depends on the amount, quality and proven economic viability. Types and uses of coal The quality of coal, which determines its use, is dependent on the carbon content it contains. Anthracite contains more than 85 % of carbon while bituminous contains 45% to 85% carbons sub-bituminous coal has 35%-45% carbon while lignite coal contains less than 35% carbon. The carbon content in coal is dependent on the coalification. It is the process which transforms peat to coal. The process takes place under different condition to produce the different types of coal. It is this process that determines the rank of coal. Low ranked coal such as sub bituminous and lignite have soft textures and are lighter in appearance. They have higher moisture in them and have low energy output. Higher ranking coals such as anthracite and bituminous coal have low moisture content and have darker vitreous appearance. They have high energy output compared to low ranking ones (World Coal Institute, 2006). 75 % of coal produced in the world is used for electricity production. It is used to heat up water which turns turbines to generate electricity. USA, china, India, Japan, Russia and Australia are the largest consumers of coal in the world. More that three quarters of the coal mined in the world is used by these countries. History has it that coal was first used in china for commercial purposes in 1000BC. It was used for smelting copper and casting o currency coins. It was until the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th century that there was an upsurge in the demand for coal. It started with improved steam engines that could use coal instead of fuel woods. In the beginning of the 19th century, coal was used to make ‘coalified’ gas which as used for lighting purposes. The coal generated electricity was in 1882 in the United States. In the modern electricity generation using coal, thermal coal is ground into fine powder and combusted at higher temperatures. This is then used to heat water which turns turbines at high pressure to produce electricity. Coal produced electricity accounts for about 40% of global electricity production. Low quality coal such as lignite and sub bituminous is used or this purpose. It is relatively cheap and abundant in nature (World coal Institute, 2003). Coal is also a crucial element in the industrial production of steel and iron. These metals are essential in every day construction of buildings bridges, vehicles, and other equipment. More than 60% of coal produced in the world is made in industries using blast furnaces fuelled by coal. In 2003, close to a billion tones of coal wee produced, using over 500 million tons of ground coal. The process makes use of coke in the furnaces’. Coal is also widely use din the manufacture of cement, which is an important component in concrete made structures. With a boom in the construction industry, the production of cement has gone up and so has the demand for coal. Over 1.3 billion tons of cement are used in the world per year. In the manufacture of cement, high temperatures are required in the kilns and coal is normally used. Lignite, sub bituminous or bituminous coal may be used depending on availability and costs. The by products from combustion of coal such as fly ash, bottom ash and flue gas also have different uses. Apart form industrial uses, coal is also useful in the domestic environment. Anthracite for example, is used for heating purposes in homes due to its smokeless characteristic. It is also used in the manufacture of carbon fibre, silicon metal and activated carbon for filtering. There are thousands of uses for coal combustion wastes and coal by products (Luther, 2011). Other uses are still being invented Coal research, concerns and future prospects As mentioned earlier, coal deposits can be found basically in any country globally. Scientists have raised concerns over the fast extraction rates of this commodity. Extraction rate have surpassed the discovery of new mines and deposits. The proven coal deposits could last the world for approximately 112 years, given the current production and growth projection (McKay, 2013). The biggest setback about coal is that it in a non renewable source of energy. It is also or of the largest contributors to global warming through emission of carbon dioxide when it combusts. Carbon dioxide is the single biggest greenhouse gas that pollutes the environment (Herrerias, 2013). This has raised concerns, especially among environmentalists and the world population at large which has been a victim of climate change. The future for coal mining and usage remain bigger despite the environmental challenges. Research has been underway on aw coal can be used and at the same time safeguard environmental concerns (Reynolds, 2013). This is possible through technological advancements that advocate for clean coal. Apart from gas emissions, coal mining also leaves huge tracts of land derelict and unusable. Mine subsidence, noise, air and water pollution e also major concerns. There have been measures put in place to curb the effects by reclaiming lands that have already been mined (Latimer, 2013). Global energy demands are expected to rise by almost 60 percent in the next 25 years. Developing counties will account for almost 70 % of the energy requirements. As it is today, coal will play a significant role in meeting this demand with current trends where coal demand has grown faster than any other energy source, it will remain a major contender in energy provision throughout the world. The current 40 % electricity produced through coal combustion is expected to remain constant over the next 30 years. The future for coal mining and exploration is bright as technological advancements to get more of it are underway. Technology to reduce environmental degradation will also ensure that it use is acceptable among environmentalists and society at large. As inventions move towards hydrogen energy, coal is a major contender in its industrial production (Jusino & Schobert, 2006). It has more energy, and is cleaner than fossil fuels Conclusion Coal is a significant fuel for human survival and will continue to be even in the future. It has diverse and crucial uses in humanity’s day to day lives. Concerns over its exhaustion and environmental degradation are however huge disadvantages in it usage. The future of coal lays in technological advancements o solves these problems. It is also a crucial aspect for cleaner and better energy sources like hydrogen. REFERENCES Fears for impact on coal industry of rush to go green. (2013, Sep 18). Journal. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.alpha2.latrobe.edu.au/docview/1433194789?accountid=12001 Freese, B. (2003). Coal a Human History. South Jacksonville, Illinois: Perma-Bound Books. Herrerias, M. J. (2013). The environmental convergence hypothesis: Carbon dioxide emissions according to the source of energy. Energy Policy, 61, 1140. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.alpha2.latrobe.edu.au/docview/1426850172?accountid=12001 Institute, W. C. (2003). The Role of Coal as an Energy Source. World Coal Institute. Jusino, A., & Schobert, H. H. (2006). The use of sulfur to extract hydrogen from coal. International Journal of Coal Geology , 65 (3), 223-234. Latimer, C. (2013). Mining's future: Industry leaders discuss the sector's concerns @ AIMEX13. Australian Mining, Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.alpha2.latrobe.edu.au/docview/1429135108?accountid=12001 Luther, L. (2011). Managing Coal Combustion Waste (CCW): Issues with Disposal and Waste. Collingdale: DIANE Publishing. Reynolds, M. (2013, Aug 24). A clean energy future for coal miners. The Daily Camera. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.alpha2.latrobe.edu.au/docview/1427484902?accountid=12001 McKay, P. (2013, Sep 18). Mining for the long term. The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.alpha2.latrobe.edu.au/docview/1433019488?accountid=12001 Moniz, E. J. (2007). The Future of Coal-Options For a Carborn Constarined World. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. World Coal Institute. (2004). Clean Coal – Building a Future throughTechnology . World Coal Institute. (2001). Sustainable Entrepreneurship, the Way Forward for the Coal Industry. World Coal Institute. World Coal Institute. (2006). The coal resource. A comprehensive overview of coal . World Coal Oraganisation. (2013, June 14). World Coal Oraganisation. Retrieved October 2, 2013, from http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/where-is-coal-found/ You, C., & Xu, X. C. (2010). Coal combustion and its pollution control. Energy , 35 (11), 4467-4472. Read More