Brian Barton
Coal is a fossil fuel and non-renewable energy source that is inexpensive to produce and convert to useful energy. However, coal use has detrimental social and environmental impacts. Coal-fired power plants are a major source of air pollution, releasing harmful substances that contribute to smog, acid rain, and greenhouse gas emissions. These pollutants have been linked to asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, and other severe environmental and public health impacts. In addition, coal mining can alter landscapes, displace farmers, and contaminate water sources. To minimize these adverse effects, various technologies and systems, such as carbon capture and storage, coal gasification, and pollution control measures, are being explored and implemented.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coal cleaning | Standard practice in developed countries, reduces emissions of ash and sulfur dioxide |
| Electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters | Remove 99% of fly ash from flue gases |
| Flue gas desulfurization | Reduces sulfur dioxide output by up to 97% |
| Carbon capture and storage | Captures and stores carbon dioxide from industrial flue gas |
| Carbon sequestration | Stores carbon in a carbon pool |
| Carbon sink | Reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it emits |
| Oxy-combustion carbon capture | Captures CO2 and acid rain-producing pollutants, separates them, and compresses CO2 into a liquid |
| Gasification | Makes it easier to separate CO2 from exhaust fumes |
| Reusing and recycling waste | Reduces environmental effects of coal production and consumption |
| Coalbed methane extraction | Capturing and using or selling methane extracted from coal mines |
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What You'll Learn
Carbon capture and storage
There are different technologies available for capturing CO2, including pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, and oxy-fuel combustion capture. Pre-combustion capture involves gasification of the coal prior to combustion, making it easier to separate CO2 from the exhaust fumes. Post-combustion capture uses technologies such as flue-gas desulfurization, selective catalytic reduction, electrostatic precipitators, and fly ash reduction to remove CO2 and toxins from the flue gas after combustion. Oxy-fuel combustion capture, such as that used at the Schwarze Pumpe power station in Germany, captures CO2 and acid rain-producing pollutants, separates them, and compresses the CO2 into a liquid that can be injected into depleted natural gas fields or other geological formations.
CCS has been recognised by international and intergovernmental agencies, including the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, IEA, IPCC, and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), as a vital technology for sustainable development. However, there are several challenges to its widespread adoption. Firstly, low-cost facilities are required to make advanced CCS technology economically viable. Secondly, a robust regulatory and policy framework is needed to provide financial stability and attract investors to undertake CCS projects. Additionally, there are concerns about the energy requirements of capturing and compressing CO2, which can increase the fuel needs of coal-fired power plants.
While CCS has the potential to play a significant role in mitigating climate change, it is not a final solution. According to the IPCC, there are no scenarios in which CCS would allow for the continued use of fossil fuels at current levels. By 2050, CCS is estimated to contribute to roughly 6% of the mitigation needed to reach net zero. Therefore, while CCS can be part of a comprehensive approach to reducing carbon emissions, it should be complemented by other solutions, such as renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.
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Reusing and recycling waste
Coal waste is an environmental hazard, and reusing and recycling it can help clean up environmental sites and reduce the need for future mining. Coal ash, a waste product from burning coal, is one of the largest types of industrial waste generated in the United States. It often contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lead.
Coal ash can be reused in various ways, such as in the production of concrete, carbon fiber, wallboard, cement, and synthetic gypsum. The EPA has defined "beneficial use" as the reuse of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) in products that replace those made from virgin materials, thus conserving natural resources. The EPA supports the responsible recycling of coal ash and has established rules for its safe disposal to prevent environmental and economic damage caused by improper disposal.
Fly ash, a fine powdery material composed mostly of silica, is a by-product of burning finely ground coal. It can be captured by pollution-control devices and stored near power plants or placed in landfills. However, there are environmental concerns about pollution leaching into the ground and contaminating groundwater. Bottom ash, another coal combustion byproduct, is a coarse angular particle that forms at the bottom of coal furnaces. Boiler slag is molten bottom ash that turns into smooth glassy pellets when cooled with water.
Recycling carbon dioxide emissions from coal and other fossil fuels is also possible and can be used to create durable products like concrete or short-lived products like jet fuels or pharmaceuticals. Carbon capture and storage technologies are crucial for reducing emissions and can be implemented in newly built coal-fired power plants to separate and capture CO2 from exhaust fumes. An example of a coal-based plant using carbon-capture technology is the Schwarze Pumpe power station in Germany, which captures CO2 and separates it from acid rain-producing pollutants.
Reusing and recycling coal waste is essential for minimizing environmental and social pollution associated with coal use. By finding new uses for coal waste, we can reduce the negative impacts of coal mining and combustion while also creating valuable products and reducing the need for future mining.
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Reducing sulfur and other impurities
Coal is a fossil fuel and non-renewable energy source that is combusted to generate electricity. The combustion of coal releases harmful substances that contribute to air pollution, acid rain, and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the key pollutants released during coal combustion is sulfur dioxide, which arises from the sulfur content in coal. Sulfur in coal can come from various sources, including plant material, seawater, and microbiological action. The presence of sulfur in coal leads to the emission of sulfur dioxide during combustion, which contributes to air pollution and respiratory illnesses.
To minimize the release of sulfur and other impurities from coal combustion, several technologies and approaches have been developed:
- Flue-Gas Desulfurization (FGD): Also known as scrubbers, FGD units are used to remove sulfur from the flue gases exiting power plant smokestacks. This technology can effectively reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere.
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): This technology captures and separates CO2 and acid rain-producing pollutants, compressing the CO2 into a liquid that can be injected into depleted natural gas fields or other geological formations. While this technology doesn't directly target sulfur, it significantly reduces overall emissions and their environmental impact.
- Gasification: Newly built coal-fired power plants can utilize coal gasification before combustion, making it easier and cheaper to separate CO2 from exhaust fumes. This process increases efficiency and reduces the amount of coal needed to generate the same amount of power.
- Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): This is a post-combustion approach that helps reduce the impact of coal combustion on the environment and human health. While SCR doesn't specifically target sulfur, it aids in minimizing the overall emissions from coal-fired power plants.
- Low-Sulfur Coal: In countries with strict sulfur emission regulations, coal-fired utilities switch to low-sulfur coals, such as those sourced from the Powder River Basin in the United States. This approach reduces sulfur emissions without the need for additional processing.
- Increased Processing: In some cases, coal undergoes increased processing to decrease its sulfur content before combustion. This can involve using technologies such as fluidized bed combustion (FBC) or integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) to remove or reduce sulfur compounds in the coal.
By implementing these strategies and technologies, significant progress can be made in reducing sulfur and other impurities released during coal combustion, thereby minimizing the environmental and health impacts associated with coal-fired power generation.
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Health and environmental impact
Burning coal releases harmful substances that contribute to air pollution, acid rain, and greenhouse gas emissions. The combustion of coal releases diverse chemicals into the air, including water, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. The inhalation of hazardous substances such as coal micro-particles, nanoparticles, and their by-products constitutes an invisible risk to human health. The continuous inhalation of these hazardous substances triggers many diseases, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, systemic inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is linked to asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, acid rain, global warming, and other severe environmental and public health impacts.
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that is emitted during coal combustion and is responsible for 42% of US mercury emissions. It can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems. Arsenic is another toxic pollutant emitted by coal plants, which causes cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion. Lead is also emitted by coal plants and is extremely harmful. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is produced when the sulfur in coal reacts with oxygen, forming small, acidic particulates that can penetrate human lungs. It is linked to asthma, bronchitis, smog, and acid rain, which damages crops and other ecosystems and acidifies lakes and streams. US coal power plants emitted more than 3.1 million tons of SO2 in 2014. Nitrogen oxides are visible as smog and irritate lung tissue, exacerbate asthma, and make people more susceptible to chronic respiratory diseases. In 2014, US coal power plants emitted more than 1.5 million tons.
Coal mining can also have detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Surface mines, which involve removing the soil and rock above coal deposits, were the source of about 63% of the coal mined in the United States in 2022. Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining have affected large areas of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Kentucky. This technique changes the landscape, and streams are sometimes covered with rock and dirt. The water draining from these filled valleys may contain pollutants that can harm aquatic wildlife downstream. The impacts of coal mining on water resources can harm poor and vulnerable communities, as seen in India's Vidarbha region, where coal expansion threatens to exacerbate water and agrarian crises. Coal plants also compete with farmers for scarce water resources, leading to political tensions and social unrest.
Several methods and technologies exist to mitigate the health and environmental impacts of coal combustion. Pre-combustion approaches include cleaning coal through 'washing', which reduces emissions of ash and sulfur dioxide. Post-combustion approaches include flue-gas desulfurization, selective catalytic reduction, electrostatic precipitators, and fly ash reduction. Carbon capture and storage technologies are also being developed to capture and store carbon dioxide, with an early example being the Schwarze Pumpe power station in Germany. Newly built coal-fired power plants can utilize gasification of coal prior to combustion, making it easier to separate CO2 from exhaust fumes.
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Water resource management
Preventing Acid Mine Drainage
Acid mine drainage is a significant issue in coal mining, where exposed coal and surrounding rocks release acid and toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, copper, and lead, into nearby water sources. This process can be mitigated by implementing proper sealing and drainage systems, as well as treating water before it is released into the environment.
Adopting Cleaner Technologies
Newly built coal-fired power plants can utilize gasification of coal before combustion, making it easier and cheaper to separate and capture CO2 from exhaust fumes. Additionally, "wet-recirculating" plants can be used instead of "once-through" systems to cool and reuse water, reducing thermal pollution and water withdrawal from natural sources.
Reclaiming and Reusing Land
Land reclamation and reuse can help address water pollution. Reclaiming land previously used for coal mining can prevent further contamination. Additionally, waste products captured during coal burning can be reused to produce materials like cement and synthetic gypsum for wallboard.
Improving Water Allocation
In coal mining areas with scarce water resources, such as northern China, implementing optimal water allocation management is crucial. Using models that consider supply and demand forecasts, as well as economic, social, and environmental factors, can help achieve coordinated development for mining safety, mine water utilization, and the remediation of the water environment.
Capturing Coalbed Methane
Coal mines can capture and utilize or sell coalbed methane, a significant source of methane emissions. Capturing this methane improves mine safety and reduces methane emissions, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Complying with Regulations
Compliance with regulations, such as the Clean Water Act in the United States, is essential. This act requires industries, including coal power plants, to reduce pollutants released into water bodies. Adhering to such regulations helps ensure that water pollution from coal operations is minimized.
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Frequently asked questions
Coal is a fossil fuel and non-renewable energy source that is used to generate electricity. The combustion of coal releases harmful substances that contribute to air pollution, acid rain, and global warming. It is linked to asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, and other severe environmental and public health impacts. Coal mining can also change the landscape and harm aquatic wildlife downstream.
There are a variety of evolving responses and technologies to mitigate the health and environmental impacts of coal use, known as "clean coal" technologies. These include pre-combustion approaches such as cleaning coal through 'washing' to reduce emissions of ash and sulfur dioxide, and post-combustion approaches such as flue-gas desulfurization, selective catalytic reduction, electrostatic precipitators, and fly ash reduction.
The transition to low-carbon energy sources should be equitable and provide alternative job opportunities for those employed in the coal industry. In the short term, countries can also ensure that tax exemptions for multinational mining corporations do not come at the expense of tax revenues that serve the public.
In 2014, SaskPower, a provincial-owned electric utility in Canada, completed renovations on Boundary Dam's boiler, making it the world's first post-combustion carbon capture storage facility. The facility can scrub out CO2 and toxins from up to 90% of the flue gas that it emits. Another example is the Schwarze Pumpe power station in Germany, which captures CO2 and acid rain-producing pollutants, separates them, and compresses the CO2 into a liquid.
