Abstract: Coal is the most damaging fossil fuel for environmental concerns and carbon emissions. while the use of coal for electricity generation in power stations has largely been supplanted by natural gas. However, reserves of coal could last for a long time and still play a role in meeting primary energy demand.The formation of coal deposits is described with reference to the various types of coal and their combustion and content properties. Production is explored geographically, as well as the different methods of extraction.A brief description of the major coal mining organizations is provided, together with a comprehensive review of supply and demand in the global market and trading in coal as a commodity. Coal’s value and its price are discussed in context with forecasts for future market volatility, demand growth, and use.Before reviewing the future for coal, various hypotheses are explored to define whether coal can support rural electrification in the energy transition. Coal is certainly pressurized by climate change concerns, yet in China and India, coal is predicted to remain a major contributor to primary energy sources.Coal founded the industrial revolution, yet, despite environmental pressures and the lack of viable carbon capture and storage techniques to sequestrate carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations, coal would appear not to be dead and buried. Indeed, we make a robust case that coal could yet play a balancing fuel role in the energy transitions of the next decades.
Publication Year: 2020
Publication Date: 2020-12-07
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 2
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot