Uses of coal

Coal has many important uses worldwide. The most significant uses of coal are in
electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing and as a liquid fuel.
1. TRANSPORTATION
Growing demand for transport fuels and infrastructure
The pressure to provide transport infrastructure and fuels is immense. Globally the
ownership of motor vehicles has increased from around 250 million in 1970 to over
one billion today.
Coal-derived fuels and energy carriers, as well as coal-based electricity, can play a
significant role in responding to the growing energy needs of the transport sector. Coal
is also an important raw material and source of primary energy for the manufacturing
of materials used to build transport infrastructure, such as steel, cement and
aluminium.
Coal is a key energy fuel in the production of aluminium a non-ferrous metal
known
for its lightweight properties and widely used in cars, trains and airplanes to reduce
the weight of these vehicles and their energy consumption. In fact, new cars in Europe
use, on average, 132 kg of aluminium per car. Coal accounts for over 50% of the
energy used to produce aluminium.
Energy intensive materials such as steel, cement and lime are used to build railroads,
tunnels, bridges and roads. Coal, because of its relative affordability, is the most
widely used source of energy in the manufacturing process of these materials.
Coal is not only an important energy source for steel production but is an essential
raw material and energy fuel in the production process.
The development of the coal to liquids industry can serve to hedge against oil-related energy
security risks. Coal prices have been historically lower and more stable than both oil and gas on
an equivalent energy basis. Using domestic coal reserves, or accessing the relatively stable
international coal market, can allow countries tominimise their exposure to oil price volatility
while providing the liquid fuels needed for economic growth. Unlike the oil market, the coal
market benefits from a very large number of suppliers.

2. ELECTRICITY GENERATION
Coal plays a vital role in electricity generation worldwide. Coal-fired power plants currently
fuel 41% of global electricity and, in some countries, coal fuels a higher percentage of electricity.
Modern life is unimaginable without electricity. It lights houses, buildings, streets, provides
domestic and industrial heat, and powers most equipment used in homes, offices and machinery
in factories. Improving access to electricity worldwide is critical to alleviating poverty.
Coal plays a vital role in electricity generation worldwide. Coal-fired power plants currently fuel
41% of global electricity and, in some countries, coal fuels a higher percentage of electricity.

The other uses of coal are :

Iron and steel
About 70% of steel is created using coke, a high-carbon fuel made from coal. It is burned to melt
and remove impurities from iron ore during iron and steel production.
Shampoo
The dandruff and head lice-zapping power of some shampoos is thanks to coal tar, a thick, darkcoloured liquid produced when goal is turned into coke or coal gas fuel.
Plant fertiliser
Coal can be turned into ammonia fertiliser by breaking it into carbon monoxide and hydrogen
gas. The hydrogen mixes with nitrogen to make ammonia.
Concrete
Concrete is a building material made with cement. Coal is burned to make heat for cement
production. Waste ash from coal-fired power stations can replace cement in concrete.