Old King Coal

[DaveB]

First coal-free day in Britain since Industrial Revolution - BBC News

Britain went a full day without using coal to generate electricity for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, the National Grid says.
The energy provider said Friday's lack of coal usage was a "watershed" moment.
Britain's longest continuous energy period without coal until now was 19 hours - first achieved last May, and again on Thursday.
The government plans to phase out Britain's last plants by 2025 in order to cut carbon emissions.

[Mordac]

First coal-free day in Britain since Industrial Revolution - BBC News

We must be about due for another miners strike then...

[_V_]

Coal releases a lot of CO2, nearly double that of natural gas.

However, modern coal power stations can be built that are clean and efficient.

Lean and clean: why modern coal-fired power plants are better by design - Power Technology

But that requires some vision and money, something in short supply, especially in the UK.

[Fred Bloggs]

Coal releases a lot of CO2, nearly double that of natural gas.

However, modern coal power stations can be built that are clean and efficient.

Lean and clean: why modern coal-fired power plants are better by design - Power Technology

But that requires some vision and money, something in short supply, especially in the UK.

Of course, the problems are that we no longer have any companies that can design and build power stations within the UK. And we no longer have a coal mining industry. Back in time, the UK power and mining industries put a lot of research effort into improving effeiciencies and cleanliness of coal fired plant. But none of it ever came to much and is now lost.

[_V_]

Of course, the problems are that we no longer have any companies that can design and build power stations within the UK. And we no longer have a coal mining industry. Back in time, the UK power and mining industries put a lot of research effort into improving effeiciencies and cleanliness of coal fired plant. But none of it ever came to much and is now lost.

USA has a lot of coal. I can see them leading the world in "clean" coal producing power stations, especially under Trump.

[OwlHoot]

First coal-free day in Britain since Industrial Revolution - BBC News

Heard about that on the radio while driving home. So I stoked up a nice coal fire on my multiburner to celebrate.

[Fred Bloggs]

USA has a lot of coal. I can see them leading the world in "clean" coal producing power stations, especially under Trump.

GE are pretty well world leaders in that area. Set to make a lot of money out of it. Where are the UK companies? We used to be leaders in this technology too. Now we have no UK company to design or build a power plant. All gone. The people are now working in B&Q as greeters I guess or retired.

[scooterscot]

Coal releases a lot of CO2, nearly double that of natural gas.

Coal is a lightweight.

"A cow does on overage release between 70 and 120 kg of Methane per year. Methane is a greenhouse gas like carbon dioxide (CO2). But the negative effect on the climate of Methane is 23 times higher than the effect of CO2."


Cows — Not Coal — Are the Real Climate Change Culprits

[VectraMan]

Coal releases a lot of CO2, nearly double that of natural gas.

However, modern coal power stations can be built that are clean and efficient.

Lean and clean: why modern coal-fired power plants are better by design - Power Technology

But that requires some vision and money, something in short supply, especially in the UK.

But is it better than gas? The article talks about 45% ish efficiency, whereas gas can manage 60%.

http://www.powerengineeringint.com/a...y-barrier.html

Even Formula 1 engines are now more efficient than coal.

And surely coal is still nasty stuff. If there's one lesson that should be learned from the diesel debacle is that CO2 isn't everything.

[vetran]

But is it better than gas? The article talks about 45% ish efficiency, whereas gas can manage 60%.

http://www.powerengineeringint.com/a...y-barrier.html

Even Formula 1 engines are now more efficient than coal.

And surely coal is still nasty stuff. If there's one lesson that should be learned from the diesel debacle is that CO2 isn't everything.

Coal is readily available and its easy to spin up a coal station making it suitable to support green power.

Carbon & other capture are a reality.

One established solution for NO2 (the subject of VW's deceit) was urea (refined piss) tanks considered inconvenient on cars but very achievable on power stations.

There are a number of ways being used on vehicles to clean diesel exhausts but many of them are too difficult to incorporate conveniently in a car, many lorries have them.

Clean coal power is entirely achievable and there is lots of it 300+ years. Far cheaper & more reliable than nuclear.