Clean Coal? Myth or Reality

"Clean coal" has been taught to us to be a potential solution to make coal more environmentally friendly and less hazardous. The concept suggests that technology can make coal environmentally friendly, but when you examine the facts, it is clear there is no such thing as "clean coal." According to odi.org, “Even the most advanced coal plant produces around 30 times more CO2 than wind and hydro, twenty times more than solar and geothermal, and 50% more than natural gas.” (How clean is clean coal?, n.d.).  

Coal mining and combustion cause significant environmental harm. One of the key issues with coal is that it releases methane during extraction. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is even more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a brief period. Methane emissions occur during coal mining operations, primarily through leaks and venting from underground mines. These emissions contribute to global warming and climate change. When coal is burned it emits a range of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. These include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is a primary component of acid rain, which can harm ecosystems and wildlife. It also has adverse health effects, leading to respiratory problems. Nitrogen oxides contribute to ground-level ozone and smog formation, which can negatively impact human health. Long-term exposure to these pollutants can result in respiratory issues and other health problems. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming.  

In the New York Times "clean coal" is described as "coal plants that capture the carbon dioxide emitted from smokestacks and bury it underground as a way of limiting global warming" (Plumer, 2017). However, this method known as carbon capture and storage is relatively a new method and has not yet shown true success. This process faces numerous challenges, including excessive costs, energy requirements, and potential leakage and environmental risks associated with long-term storage. technical and operational challenges, which can limit effectiveness also have to be considered when saying that this method is a probable solution. The concept of "clean coal" is fundamentally flawed. Despite these efforts to develop cleaner technologies and improve the efficiency of coal-fired power plants, coal will always produce harmful emissions that cannot be contained. Even if carbon capture and storage practices were to be widely implemented, it would not address the release of other harmful pollutants like methane, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. The concept of "clean coal" is more marketing than a real solution to the problems associated with coal. The truth is that, regardless of how you frame it, coal remains to be environmentally destructive. In recent years, many countries have recognized the need to transition away from coal toward cleaner, renewable energy technologies like wind and solar power. In 2017, Portugal began its shift to end the burning of coal for energy. Euronews.green stated, “Portugal shut down its last remaining coal plant over the weekend, ending the use of the polluting material for electricity generation. It became the fourth country in the European Union to do so. Environmental group Zero said in a statement the Pego plant in central Portugal had been the country's second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, adding that "freeing ourselves from the biggest source of greenhouse gases was a momentous day for Portugal". (Euronews 2021). To secure a cleaner and more sustainable future, the best course of action is to transition away from coal and use renewable energy sources that offer genuine solutions to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. 

In conclusion, “clean coal” is not as clean as it has been made to seem. The technologies in places to purify it are flawed and unrealistic. Burning coal releases many harmful greenhouse gases that directly contribute to climate change and cause health hazards. A great solution to burning coal is to switch to safer alternatives like using renewable energy sources.  

Resources:

How clean is clean coal? (n.d.). ODI: Think Change. https://odi.org/en/insights/how-clean-is-clean-coal/#:~:text=Advanced%20coal%20pollutes%20far%20more%20than%20alternatives&text=Even%20the%20most%20advanced%20coal,story%20for%20other%20air%20pollutants.

Plumer, B. (2017, August 23). What ‘clean coal’ is—and isn’tLinks to an external site.. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/climate/what-clean-coal-is-and-isnt.html

Euronews. (2021, November 22). Portugal becomes the fourth EU country to stop using coal to generate electricity. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/11/22/portugal-becomes-the-fourth-eu-country-to-stop-using-coal-to-generate-electricity

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