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Power Generation Switching to Coal - 3/16/08Coal is the largest source of fuel for the production of electricity worldwide. Demands for coal could exceed records set in 2006. Stock prices for coal producers have been skyrocketing, making some investors call it Black Gold. According to the National Mining Association, U.S. coal producers plan to excavate a record amount of coal in 2008, exceeding the record in 2006. NMA also believes there will be record demands for coal in 2008. American holds the world largest coal reserves. Last year the U.S. had more coal based power plant capacity than in the last ten years. Twenty four more coal based plants are being constructed. In 2007, China for the first time imported more coal than it exported. Unless something changes the trend, imported coal to China should dramatically increase. China doubled its coal output from 2001 to 2006, but even with this massive increase supply cannot meet demand. China’s power generating capacity rose by 18% from last July to December, mostly fueled by coal. China is adding hundreds of coal fired power plants to meet demand. One of Japan’s nuclear plants was disabled by an earthquake last year causing the government to import more coal than ever. Since the 1990s, Europe’s coal usage has been increasing causing further pressure on the supply of coal. India has a large domestic reserve of coal, but with a national infrastructure buildout an additional 80 million metric tons may be needed each year to meet demand. Indonesia has changed from an exporter of coal to a net user of its own coal reserves. Coal produces 50% of the U.S. power needs. Currently the U.S. demands for energy surpass its production ability. Part of this problem is due to the lag in the construction of power plants to meet growing demand. Many utilities across the nation on peak power days are unable to meet demand. GE, Siemens and Alstom are the three largest makers of turbines for electricity generation. They have seen a shift in their orders for steam generators made for natural gas fired utilities plants to coal fired. According to the three, coal powered units will make up about 40% of all orders for electricity turbines in the next 10 years. Last year the number of orders for natural gas turbines fell to 25% of the total number of orders. What is causing this shift in the U.S. from natural gas to coal? The cost of power generated from natural gas is four times more expensive than coal. The supply of natural gas in the U.S. is very questionable. Experts say few natural gas fired plants are being built because there is no additional natural gas available to power them. Natural gas supplies are in decline. Coal is cheap and we have a stable supply. Coal does have a black eye when it comes to the environment but according to www.americaspower.org our coal fired plants are 70% cleaner. On the other hand many environmentalists say "clean coal" makes about as much sense as saying "safe cigarettes". More information: Clean Coal is it Dirtier Than You Think We are on the verge of an Energy Crises in this country on every level. Will switching to a cheap stable supply of coal be at the cost of destroying our environment? For more information on coal go to these links: If you concerned about our resources go to this link: Back to the Resources Page |
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