Coal is considered as a sedimentary rock of organic origin that is made up almost entirely of carbon. Due to its composition, people commonly know this material as mineral or vegetable carbon because it naturally comes from the accumulation and lithification of silver remains.
The importance of this rock is that it is a fossil fuel that accounts for more than 25% of the world’s electricity generation, all this is because when it burns it produces a great calorific value that is used in multiple industries.
Despite this, it must be considered that there are varioustypes of coalwhich are used differently depending on their carbon content, the best type of mineral or vegetable coal is what is called anthracite, because it is the purest carbonaceous material and can generate more thermal energy. Learn more about the uses of coal by clicking here.
Below we show you the most important advantages and disadvantages of carbon that you must take into account within the materials of nonrenewable energy.
Advantages of coal
It is abundant material
Coal is one of the most abundant minerals in nature and it can be found in various forms such as black carbon, charcoal and coal 60.
Coal is a widely used energy source, it is involved in approximately 40% of electricity production worldwide, so it is almost comparable to natural gas and oil.
Coal is a very versatile rock or mineral
Coal is not only used for energy use through combustion, but also It can be transformed in the liquid state as synthetic crude and in the gaseous state like gasified coal.
It is important to mention that when coal is transformed into liquid and gas, its combustion is cleaner, thus reducing its impact on the atmosphere.
You are in an active industry
Throughout the planet, the coal industry generates thousands, even millions of jobs, in which its workers have a living wage.
The work in this industry is very strong as well as being very active, since this mineral is highly consumed throughout the planet.
Always available
Unlike renewable sources, coal is an energy option that can work tirelessly all day, regardless of weather conditions.
Is feature is essential for places that always require electricity and they cannot stop due to some weather phenomenon or lack of wind.
You need a very cheap infrastructure
Coal is widely used in thermoelectric plants.
Power plants with technology based on this mineral have cheaper production costs, since the processes for energy generation are much simpler.
It is a very cheap non-renewable resource.
Compared to other non-renewable energy sources, coal is very cheap, so using it is financially more suitable both for companies and for the final consumer.
It has multiple applications
Being a very versatile mineral, coal has multiple applications ranging from its use for energy generation, as its utility in the steel industry as an input for the production of steel.
In the same way, coke is obtained from coal that is used in the aluminum industry, it is also used for the production of methanol, gasoline, ammonia and synthetic petroleum.
Generates high energy power
With very little coal, an enormous amount of energy can be obtained, which shows the great energetic power of this mineral. For each kilogram of coal it is possible to obtain 2 kWh.
In addition, this mineral can generate electricity almost immediately, even at the very moment it is required.
Its extraction or exploitation is simple
Those in charge of exploring and extracting coal from the subsoil are mining engineers and geological engineers supported by trained personnel. Coal is quite easy to extract from its deposits because it appears as sub-horizontal strata or in visible layers.
Open pit mining techniques are generally used to extract the mineral, which also makes it a very profitable material for companies.
No leakage problems
Coal will not cause any type of problem or complication associated with the leak or escape of flammable material, since it does not generate a leak, as it does with oil and natural gas.
Disadvantages of coal
Can generate pollution
It is no secret to anyone that coal-fired power plants are major generators of pollution, it is even considered the main source of air pollution.
It is important to note that carbon also releases into the atmosphere large amounts of carbon dioxide and other highly toxic gases contributing to global warming.
The generation of energy from the use of coal must be minimized, since it generates great environmental problems on the planet.
May pose health hazards
Air pollution from coal combustion is highly harmful to health, generating respiratory and bronchopulmonary diseases in the population.
The Workers who work in the mineral extraction mines are the ones with the greatest exposure to the dangers of coal, since they directly breathe the polluted air.
Miners can develop a pathology known as pneumoconiosis, caused by inhaling coal dust.
This disease has lifelong consequences and can end up being fatal, since in many cases it leads to lung cancer.
Similarly, miners work in subhuman conditions and often have serious accidents at work, most of which have fatal consequences.
It is a non-renewable energy or material
Like other fossil fuels, coal is a non-renewable energy source, so it is finite and its excessive use can create scarcity.
Many experts suggest that coal will begin to have availability problems in less than 30 years, while others assure that coal exists for more than a century, so that its relative scarcity on the planet can be glimpsed.
Its mining extraction can cause damage to the environment
The coal is underground. Therefore, its exploitation means the destruction of natural spaces, which are the habitat of man and other living species.
Let us remember that coal mining renders intervened land sterile, displacing human beings from their homes and destroying animal and plant life.
Excessive use can cause acid rain.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere together with other harmful substances generated through the combustion of coal can cause acid rain, a phenomenon caused by the action of man that has great consequences for nature and living beings.
Acid rain changes the pH of lakes and streams, causing serious problems for wildlife found in these water sources.
In addition, it causes the trees to not receive light and water correctly, making them vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Although, acid rain does not directly harm humans, however direct exposure to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause lung problems and can also cause brain damage, when there is a high exposure through groundwater.
May contain radioactive material
Coal also produces ash that is scattered into the sky and is highly radioactive, as it is made up of numerous harmful substances. These ashes are 100 times more radioactive than the waste generated by nuclear plants, although they do not represent a health hazard.
It can generate tons of waste
Waste levels of coal can total millions of tons.
Only In the United States, mining activity produced 1.2 billion tons of waste in a decade.
Of this figure, barely around 40% could be recycled.
The other nations that produce coal; They may have very similar waste figures but with a lower percentage of recycling.
It can cause repercussions in the water
Coal extraction greatly affects water sources, since high-impact chemical agents are used in exploitation activities that can come into contact with ponds, streams and rivers, contaminating them and destroying wildlife.
Increase in temperatures
The activities related to the combustion of coal for energy generation cause an increase in temperature in the ecosystem, which causes serious problems for nature.
It can cause conflicts between countries
As it is a highly used mineral and its reserves are declining considerably, coal can generate a discord between the nations that export and those that need this product. It should be noted that war conflicts are always generated in most cases by the control of energy resources.