Influence of Coal as an Energy Source on Environmental Pollution

Abstract

This article considers the influence of coal energy on environmental pollution. Coal is undoubtedly part of the greenhouse problem. The main emissions from coal combustion are sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), particulates, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and mercury (Hg). Since 1980, despite a 36% increase in electricity generation and more than a 50% increase in coal use, electric utility SO₂ and NO_x emissions have declined significantly. Globally, the largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is CO₂ from the combustion of fossil fuels—around 75% of total GHG emissions covered under the Kyoto Protocol. At the present time, coal is responsible for 30–40% of world CO₂ emission from fossil fuels.

Keywords:

• coal energy
• environmental pollution
• use of coal