Clean Coal Technology Economic Challenges Questions Discussion Citations According to the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal ID: 704881
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Larenz Devaren Coal Introduction to Coal" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Larenz Devaren
CoalSlide2
Introduction to Coal
Clean Coal TechnologyEconomic Challenges
Questions / Discussion
CitationsSlide3
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal
That is only a tiny fraction of the 257 billion tons of coal in United States recoverable reservesMore than 25% of the world’s total coal reserves are located in the United States
Introduction to CoalSlide4
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal
That is only a tiny fraction of the 257 billion tons of coal in United States recoverable reservesMore than 25% of the world’s total coal reserves are located in the United States
Introduction to CoalSlide5
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal
That is only a tiny fraction of the 257 billion tons of coal in United States recoverable reservesMore than 25% of the world’s total coal reserves are located in the United States
Introduction to CoalSlide6
Coal consumption in the United States is projected to only slightly decrease over the next 25 years from 801 million tons in 2015 to 557 tons by 2040
This is a decrease of about 1.4% per yearHowever, this projection was before the election of President Trump who promised to revive coal jobs
Introduction to CoalSlide7
Coal consumption in the United States is projected to only slightly decrease over the next 25 years from 801 million tons in 2015 to 557 tons by 2040
This is a decrease of about 1.4% per yearHowever, this projection was before the election of President Trump who promised to revive coal jobs
Introduction to CoalSlide8
Coal consumption in the United States is projected to only slightly decrease over the next 25 years from 801 million tons in 2015 to 557 tons by 2040
This is a decrease of about 1.4% per yearHowever, this projection was before the election of President Trump who promised to revive coal jobs
Introduction to CoalSlide9
Of all the fossil-fuel sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) coal is the least expensive for its energy content
Coal plays a major factor for how low the cost of electricity is in the United StatesThis is why the cost of electricity in states with high coal production such as Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky have some of the lowest costs for electricity
Introduction to CoalSlide10
Of all the fossil-fuel sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) coal is the least expensive for its energy content
Coal plays a major factor for how low the cost of electricity is in the United StatesThis is why the cost of electricity in states with high coal production such as Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky have some of the lowest costs for electricity
Introduction to CoalSlide11
Of all the fossil-fuel sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) coal is the least expensive for its energy content
Coal plays a major factor for how low the cost of electricity is in the United StatesThe cost of electricity in states with high coal production such as Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky have some of the lowest costs for electricity
Introduction to CoalSlide12
The burning of coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emissionMining coal can also have negative effects such as disturbing the nearby land and polluting the nearby streams and rivers
The burning of coal also releases a significant amount of methane, a problematic greenhouse gas
Introduction to CoalSlide13
The burning of coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emissionMining coal can also have negative effects such as disturbing the nearby land and polluting the nearby water supplies
The burning of coal also releases a significant amount of methane, a problematic greenhouse gas
Introduction to CoalSlide14
The burning of coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emissionMining coal can also have negative effects such as disturbing the nearby land and polluting the nearby water supplies
The burning of coal also releases a significant amount of methane, a problematic greenhouse gas
Introduction to CoalSlide15
Coal-fired electric power plants make up the largest source of sulfur dioxide emission in the United States
In September, the EPA finalized Federal Implementation Plans for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which calls for a 53% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissionTo meet this goal, plant owners must either use lower sulfur coal in their boilers or install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers
Clean Coal TechnologySlide16
Coal-fired electric power plants make up the largest source of sulfur dioxide emission in the United States
In September, the EPA finalized Federal Implementation Plans for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which calls for a 53% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissionTo meet this goal, plant owners must either use lower sulfur coal in their boilers or install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers
Clean Coal TechnologySlide17
Coal-fired electric power plants make up the largest source of sulfur dioxide emission in the United States
In September, the EPA finalized Federal Implementation Plans for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which calls for a 53% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissionTo meet this goal, plant owners must either use lower sulfur coal in their boilers or install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers
Clean Coal TechnologySlide18
Some coals found in the Wyoming and Montana have less than 1% sulfur content, as compared to the coals in Ohio and West Virginia which have 3-10% sulfur content
However, coal can also be lowered in sulfur content simply by being broken up into smaller chunks and cleanedTiny specks of sulfur can be washed away in large water-filled tanks, where coal floats to the surface and sulfur impurities sink to the bottom
Clean Coal TechnologySlide19
Some coals found in the Wyoming and Montana have less than 1% sulfur content, as compared to the coals in Ohio and West Virginia which have 3-10% sulfur content
However, coal can also be lowered in sulfur content simply by being broken up into smaller chunks and cleanedTiny specks of sulfur can be washed away in large water-filled tanks, where coal floats to the surface and sulfur impurities sink to the bottom
Clean Coal TechnologySlide20
Some coals found in the Wyoming and Montana have less than 1% sulfur content, as compared to the coals in Ohio and West Virginia which have 3-10% sulfur content
However, coal can also be lowered in sulfur content simply by being broken up into smaller chunks and cleanedTiny specks of sulfur can be washed away in large water-filled tanks, where coal floats to the surface and sulfur impurities sink to the bottom
Clean Coal TechnologySlide21
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low costWhen a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralizedThe efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%
Clean Coal TechnologySlide22
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low costWhen a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralizedThe efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%
Clean Coal TechnologySlide23
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low costWhen a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralizedThe efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%
Clean Coal TechnologySlide24
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low costWhen a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralizedThe efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%
Clean Coal TechnologySlide25
As discussed before, the cost of coal is a huge reason the prices of electricity in the United States are low compared to Europe
Theoretically, if coal production was eliminated through environmental policy, we would expect to see the price of electricity increase dramaticallyThis increase in electricity would disproportionally affect lower class Americans who may already struggle with electricity costs
Economic ChallengesSlide26
As discussed before, the cost of coal is a huge reason the prices of electricity in the United States are low compared to Europe
Theoretically, if coal production was eliminated through environmental policy, we would expect to see the price of electricity increase dramaticallyThis increase in electricity would disproportionally affect lower class Americans who may already struggle with electricity costs
Economic ChallengesSlide27
As discussed before, the cost of coal is a huge reason the prices of electricity in the United States are low compared to Europe
Theoretically, if coal production was eliminated through environmental policy, we would expect to see the price of electricity increase dramaticallyThis increase in electricity costs would disproportionally affect lower-class Americans who may already struggle with electricity costs
Economic ChallengesSlide28
Oregon, where coal is used to produce less than 1% of the electricity , has passed a bill to eliminate the use of coal by the year 2030
However, in other states such as West Virginia, where coal is used to produce over 95% of the electricity, there is an issue of not only energy, but economy in regards to the coal industryAn outright ban on coal would eliminate one of West Virginia’s largest economy sectors, as well as significantly reduce supply of a cheap energy source, leading to an increase in electricity prices
Economic ChallengesSlide29
Oregon, where coal is used to produce less than 1% of the electricity , has passed a bill to eliminate the use of coal by the year 2030
However, in other states such as West Virginia, where coal is used to produce over 95% of the electricity, there is an issue of not only energy, but economyAn outright ban on coal would eliminate one of West Virginia’s largest economy sectors, as well as significantly reduce supply of a cheap energy source, leading to an increase in electricity prices
Economic ChallengesSlide30
Oregon, where coal is used to produce less than 1% of the electricity , has passed a bill to eliminate the use of coal by the year 2030
However, in other states such as West Virginia, where coal is used to produce over 95% of the electricity, there is an issue of not only energy, but economy A
n outright ban on coal would eliminate one of West Virginia’s largest economy sectors, as well as significantly reduce supply of a cheap energy source, leading to an increase in electricity prices
Economic ChallengesSlide31
What is the best way to decrease the harmful pollution caused by coal-fired electricity plants?
What do we do with the unskilled coal miners in states where coal is a large part of their economy?How do we offset the higher energy costs associated with a no-coal economy?Is the United States even ready to give up coal as an energy source?
Questions / DiscussionSlide32
http://needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/coal
/
http://
www.fossil.energy.gov/education/energylessons/coal/coal_cct2.html
http://
www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=4410
https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/final-cross-state-air-pollution-rule-update
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=69&t=2https
://
www3.epa.gov/ttncatc1/dir1/ffdg.pdf
http://
www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/24/warnings-rate-hikes-as-oregon-becomes-1st-state-to-kill-coal.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/power-plants
/
http://www.resilience.org/stories/2016-03-20/oregon-says-yes-to-coal-free-electricity
/
Citations