Uses of Coal – Electricity,Steel and Cement Biggest Users of Coal

Coal is one of the  cheapest and most important sources of energy, responsible for  41% of electricity production worldwide.The Pros of Coal are most evident in Electricity Generation where it continues to grow at a sharp pace in countries like India and China. In many important countries like India,China,Germany,USA,Coal is the primary source of electricity and energy.Other smaller countries also heavily rely on coal for example Poland 94% , South Africa   92%, China for 77%  and Australia for 76% of Electricity.Coal has played this a pivotal role in the development of mankind and his progress into the Industrial Age.Coal is an essential raw material and fuel for important global industries like Cement and Steel.Different qualities of Coal are used for different purposes.For example coking coal with higher carbon percentage is used in Steel Production while Thermal Coal is used in Production of Electricity.It was during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries that demand for coal surged. Coal is responsible for almost a quarter of the global energy production,41% of the Electricity Production and more than 60% for Steel Making.Here is a list of the Major Uses of Coal
 

1. Electricity Production – Coal is mainly used as Fuel to generate Electricity through combustion. Approximately 6.8 Billion Tons of Coal was consumed and that is expected to keep on increasing at around 1.5-2% per year in the next 20 years.Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used in power stations to generate electricity.
2. Steel Production – Steel Industry is the second largest user of Coal after the Electricity Industry.More than 600 million tons of Coal were used to produce more than 1 Billion Tons of Steel.Coal is an essential raw material along with iron in the production of steel which is one of the useful metal products used by man today.Coking Coal  is a solid carbonaceous residue derived from low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal.Metallurgical coke is used as a fuel to smelt Iron in the Furnace.This Cast Iron which is produced is further refined to make Steel.Around 0.63 tonnes of coke produces 1 tonne of Steel
3. Cement Industry – Coal is used as an energy source in the cement industry. Large amounts of energy are required to produce cement. Kilns usually burn coal in the form of powder and consume around 450g of coal for about 900g of cement produced.By-products generated from burning coal in coal-fired power plants such as  fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag and flue gas desulphurisation gypsum are also used in Concrete Production (source WCA). Fly ash can be used to replace  cement in concrete
4. Paper Industry and Aluminum Industry – Both these industries require large amounts of Fuel and Energy.Coal being the cheapest energy resource forms an essential input to these industries.The price and availability of Coal is an important factor in the growth of these industries
5. Chemicals and Pharma Industry – Several chemical products can be produced from the by-products of coal. Refined coal tar is used in the manufacture of chemicals, such as creosote oil, naphthalene, phenol, and benzene.
6. Coal Gas and Coal Liquid as Transportation Fuel – Current Transportation Industry does not make much use of Coal as Fuel.However the increasing cost of Oil has made it economical to consider converting Coal into Gas and Liquid which can be used to power vehicles,ships etc.

Coal is also used in thousands of other applications and products like soap,fibre making,rayon,cooking fuel etc.

Summary

Coal has myriad number of uses primarily as a source of fuel and as a rich carbon source.Coal continues to be an essential enabler of the Industrial Revolution playing an important part in the lynchpin industries of Cement and Steel.It will also continue to be the largest source of electricity production till renewable energy costs become sufficiently low to compete with thermal power production.