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Coal Power
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Coal is one of the world's principal sources of electricity. A fossil fuel that consists mainly of carbon, it is a black or brown rock that took millions of years to form. It is made from decayed organic materials that lay at bottom of swamps and was covered with dirt and rock. Over time, the layer of decayed organic material formed coal and other fossil fuels.
To generate electricity from coal it is first burned to create heat. The heat is then used to change water into steam, which turns a turbine connected to an electricity generator.
Coal is a fairly major source of electricity in Canada, but it played a much bigger role in the past. Ontario plans to phase
out coal generation in the near future because of its negative impact on the environment and human health.
Why has coal been such a major source of our electricity? Why does it continue to be used around the world? And what are the negative impacts to the environment and to our health?
benefits
Coal power is cheap and readily available- Coal is inexpensive, as is the construction of coal-fired electricity plants.
- There are abundant deposits of coal around the world and in Canada.
It's a reliable source of electricity
Coal-fired electricity generation releases air pollution and greenhouse gases
- Coal is a non-intermittent source of electricity, which makes it constant, reliable, and able to meet user demands.
- Building a coal-fired electricity plant is relatively easy, inexpensive, and quick because of its simple structure.
Coal-fired electricity generation releases air pollution and greenhouse gases
- Burning coal releases huge amounts of GHGs and other air pollutants. Just one 150-megawatt coal-fired plant produces more than one million tonnes of GHG per year, the same amount released by over 300,000 cars over that period.
- Coal plants are the main source of mercury emission in North America. Mercury can negatively impact neurological and cognitive processes, especially in children.
- Coal plants release particulate matter, which contributes to respiratory problems and smog.
- The sulfur dioxide released from burning coal can turn into sulfuric acid, which, if mixed with rain or snow, creates acid rain.
It uses lots of water, creates water pollution, and causes thermal discharge
- Large amounts of water are drawn into coal plants, primarily to cool the plant but also to generate steam for the turbines.
- When that water, now warmer, is released back into the environment, it alters the temperature of local bodies of water and harms or kills aquatic life. This is called thermal discharge.
- Discharged water may also contain harmful chemicals picked up as it cycles through the plant.
- Toxic sludge and ash are created when coal is burned. If not properly handled, they can leak into the earth and water ways.
Coal mining is extremely destructive
- Coal mining and transportation are fossil fuel-intensive and release GHGs.
- Surface mining (including mountain-top removal) drastically alters or eliminates ecosystems.
- Both surface and underground mining produce tailing dumps which may leak acidic substances into waterways.
- Watch this video by the Real News Network to learn more about the impact of coal mining:
Coal is non-renewable
- It takes millions of years to form, making it a non-renewable source. Once it's gone it's gone. At present coal is still plentiful, but if it becomes scarce, its price will rise.
For more information:
Centre for Energy (2010). What is coal? Available here.
David Suzuki Foundation (2010). Coal. Available here.
Natural Resources Canada (2008). About Coal. Available here.
U.S. Energy Information Administration. Energy Kids: Coal. Available here.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2007). Coal. Available here.
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