Coal
Coal is a combustible brownish-black or black sedimentary rock aka solid fossil fuel. It contains high amounts of carbon and hydrocarbons. It takes over millions of years for coal to form under intense heat and pressure. It is burned in over 2,100 power plants, generating 40% of the world’s electricity. It is a complex and inefficient way to boil water and produce steam in order to spin turbines and produce electricity. It is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel. However it comes with a cost. Burning coal severely pollutes the air, releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases.
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
Inexpensive form of energy (economic) |
Uses large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions (environmental) |
Coal power stations are easy to build (economic) |
Process of mining and transporting coal produce more greenhouse gas emissions (environmental) |
Easy to transport (economic) |
Water discharges from coal power plants pollute water sources (environmental) |
Lots of resources (environmental) |
Produce other wastes, including solid waste (environmental) |
Produce large amount of electricity (environmental) |
Non-renewable resource because coal is a finite resource (environmental) |