scuola energia e ambiente
Coal
Coal has dominated the world energy scenario since the Eighteenth century, up to 1970 and in 2011 it accounts for approximately 28.8% of the primary consumption of energy (Source: International Energy Agency (IEA) – Key World Energy Statistics 2013). In the years between 2003 and 2006, it is estimated that coal demand increased almost 67%; China accounted for 73% and if we also consider India, the percentage rises to 82%. China is the leading producer and consumer in the world: in 2012 coal consumption in China amounts to 1873.39 million toe per year, with a production of 1800 million toe per year (Source:BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2013).
The greatest limit of coal is that it is the most polluting source of energy and it negatively affects the state of the climate. When compared to natural gas, production of one kilowatt-hour of electricity from coal generates more than twice the amount of nitrogen oxide, eight times the amount of heavy metals, ten times the amount of fine dust, and it also produces a large amount of sulphur oxides. 40% of the world emissions of carbon dioxide per year, generated from the combustion of fossil sources is from coal: 67% is generated from its use in the thermoelectric sector and 23% from coal burnt in China and in the United States.
subjects dealt with in Coal
Coal knowledge
Coal is a fossil fuel just like oil and natural gas. Unlike them, coal is a solid fuel and as…
Extraction and distribution
The set of operations leading to the identification of coalfields and to their assessment is called mining prospecting. As with…
Environment and territory
In certain production sectors coal is still an important energy source. At present 39% of the world-wide electric energy output…
special reports
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23 October 2013 / Air
Carbon Footprint
CO2 emissions and lifestyles If your parents decide to buy a new car, they might be attracted by a car…
13 May 2013 / Earth
Small steps, great footprints
Which one takes up more space, an apple or a steak? Have you ever wondered how much space is taken…
7 September 2011 / Energy
Ten years of oil demand
World oil demand The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently published the data of world oil demand in 2010. This gives…
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5 October 2011 / Energy
The energy scenario in Italy
The National Energy Balance Every year the Italian Ministry of Economic Development publishes the country's National Energy Balance. This gives…
21 February 2013 / Energy
Renewable energy in Italy
Renewable energy sources in Italy The GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici), the Italian energy services management authority, periodically publishes data…
18 May 2011 / Energy
Artificial photosynthesis
Science is inspired by nature The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature.…
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10 January 2012 / Energy
Shale gas
The golden age of gas The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an international organisation that represents one of the points…
15 September 2008 / Energy
Natural gas
Natural gas Natural gas has been the last fossil fuel to assert itself on a global scale. For over a…
27 September 2012 / Life
Over 7 billion people on Earth
World population hits 7 billion Demographers have estimated that on 31 October 2011 world population reached the 7 billion mark,…
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23 October 2013 / Air
Carbon Footprint
CO2 emissions and lifestyles If your parents decide to buy a new car, they might be attracted by a car…
13 May 2013 / Earth
Small steps, great footprints
Which one takes up more space, an apple or a steak? Have you ever wondered how much space is taken…
-
7 September 2011 / Energy
Ten years of oil demand
World oil demand The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently published the data of world oil demand in 2010. This gives…
5 October 2011 / Energy
The energy scenario in Italy
The National Energy Balance Every year the Italian Ministry of Economic Development publishes the country's National Energy Balance. This gives…
-
21 February 2013 / Energy
Renewable energy in Italy
Renewable energy sources in Italy The GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici), the Italian energy services management authority, periodically publishes data…
18 May 2011 / Energy
Artificial photosynthesis
Science is inspired by nature The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature.…
23 October 2013 / Air
Carbon Footprint
CO2 emissions and lifestyles If your parents decide to buy a new car, they might be attracted by a car…
13 May 2013 / Earth
Small steps, great footprints
Which one takes up more space, an apple or a steak? Have you ever wondered how much space is taken…
7 September 2011 / Energy
Ten years of oil demand
World oil demand The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently published the data of world oil demand in 2010. This gives…
from the Multimedia section
curiosities
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Peat and peat-bogs
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Orimulsion
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Cracking operations
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Plants activate electrons
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Hydrogen from biomass
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ITER fusion reactor
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Peat and peat-bogs
The age of coal starts towards the mid 1600s, stimulated by the need for finding an alternative energy source to…
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
Not only energy The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it…
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Orimulsion
In order to improve supply security, and therefore the diversification of sources to produce electric energy, in Italy, in some…
Cracking operations
At the end of the fractional distillation, long hydrocarbon molecules can be transformed into lighter molecules by means of more…
-
Where does energy come from?
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need. Unfortunately we cannot exploit all this…
Plants activate electrons
In all electric plants, excluding photovoltaic solar plants, mechanic energy is transformed into electric energy through the same basic procedure.…
Peat and peat-bogs
The age of coal starts towards the mid 1600s, stimulated by the need for finding an alternative energy source to…
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
Not only energy The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it…
Orimulsion
In order to improve supply security, and therefore the diversification of sources to produce electric energy, in Italy, in some…