school energy&environment
Coal
Coal has dominated the world energy scenario since the Eighteenth century, up to 1970 and in 2013 it accounts for approximately 28.9% of the primary consumption of energy (Source: International Energy Agency (IEA) – Key World Energy Statistics 2015). 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 2015 coal consumption in China amounts to 1920 million toe per year, with a production of 1827 million toe per year (Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2016).
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.
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…
18 January 2016 / Energy
Ten years of oil demand
World oil demand Eni has recently published the 14th edition of the 2015 World Oil and Gas Review, the annual statistical…
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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.…
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…
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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,…
5 March 2009 / Energy
Biofuels
Biofuels Biofuels are one of our biggest hopes in the struggle against climate change. Growing crops to be transformed into…
22 May 2012 / Energy
Green chemistry
A bit of history Chemistry accompanies man from that day long ago when coarse hands full of hope put out…
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2 May 2006 / Energy
Enrico Mattei
Man of the future Enrico Mattei reminds us of a tenacious and brave man, who was able to gather economic…
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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…
-
18 January 2016 / Energy
Ten years of oil demand
World oil demand Eni has recently published the 14th edition of the 2015 World Oil and Gas Review, the annual statistical…
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.…
-
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,…
5 March 2009 / Energy
Biofuels
Biofuels Biofuels are one of our biggest hopes in the struggle against climate change. Growing crops to be transformed into…
-
22 May 2012 / Energy
Green chemistry
A bit of history Chemistry accompanies man from that day long ago when coarse hands full of hope put out…
-
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…
-
18 January 2016 / Energy
Ten years of oil demand
World oil demand Eni has recently published the 14th edition of the 2015 World Oil and Gas Review, the annual statistical…
-
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.…
-
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,…
-
5 March 2009 / Energy
Biofuels
Biofuels Biofuels are one of our biggest hopes in the struggle against climate change. Growing crops to be transformed into…
-
22 May 2012 / Energy
Green chemistry
A bit of history Chemistry accompanies man from that day long ago when coarse hands full of hope put out…
from the Multimedia section
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Orimulsion
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Cracking operations
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Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
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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
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
-
Orimulsion
In order to improve supply security, and therefore the diversification of sources to produce electric energy...
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...
Electricity and electrons
In all electric plants, excluding photovoltaic solar plants, mechanic energy is transformed into electric energy through the same basic procedure...
-
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
ITER fusion reactor
The reactor that will be able to produce electronuclear energy without risk of explosion or radioactive waste...
-
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
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
-
Orimulsion
In order to improve supply security, and therefore the diversification of sources to produce electric energy...
-
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...
-
Electricity and electrons
In all electric plants, excluding photovoltaic solar plants, mechanic energy is transformed into electric energy through the same basic procedure...
-
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
-
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
ITER fusion reactor
The reactor that will be able to produce electronuclear energy without risk of explosion or radioactive waste...