Coal
Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from ancient plant matter, composed mainly of carbon and used chiefly as a fuel.
Coalification: The geological transformation of plant material into coal through burial, compaction, heating, and chemical change. It describes the long process that turns peat and other plant remains into coal.
Coal-fired power station: A facility that burns coal to produce steam and generate electricity. It is the main infrastructure for turning coal’s heat into electrical power.
Carbon dioxide emissions: The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from natural processes and human activities. Coal combustion is a major human source of this heat-trapping gas.
Lignite: The lowest-rank coal, with high moisture content and relatively low energy density. It is a less carbon-rich, generally lower-energy form of coal.
Carbon capture and storage: Technologies that capture carbon dioxide and store it in geological formations or other long-lived reservoirs. It is proposed as a way to reduce emissions from coal-fired power and industry.
Peat: Partly decomposed plant matter accumulated in waterlogged environments, often the first stage in coal formation. Many coal deposits began as peat in ancient wetlands.
Coke (fuel): A porous, carbon-rich solid made by heating coal without oxygen, used mainly in ironmaking. Coking coal supplies the material from which blast-furnace coke is made.
Particulate matter: A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air, including particles from fuel combustion. Coal smoke can contain fine particles linked to respiratory and cardiovascular harm.
Anthracite: A hard, high-carbon coal with the highest rank and generally the greatest energy content. It contrasts with low-rank coal in carbon content and heating value.
Carbon capture and utilization: Processes that capture carbon dioxide and use it to make products or materials. Its potential to limit coal-related emissions depends on scale, energy needs, and durable carbon storage.