Energy source: traditional coal
Ratcliffe-on-Soar, a 2,000MW coal-fired power station
What is coal?
Coal is a fuel that supplies a lot of our country's energy needs. It is dug out of mines, usually deep below the Earth's surface. Coal can be burnt to heat homes and to supply heat for industries like steel-making, but most of the UK's coal is used to generate electricity in large power stations.
How a coal-fired power station works
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- There are 17 large coal-fired power stations in the UK (ie 100MW and above).
- Coal supplies 33.4% of the UK's electricity.
- Most coal-fired power stations are located near coal mines.
- A 2,000MW coal-fired power station boiler can burn around 800 tonnes of coal each hour.
- A typical coal-fired power station can supply enough electricity for 1.5 million homes on average.
Advantages
- Burning coal is one of the cheapest ways to generate power at the moment.
- Coal power stations can be built anywhere where there are good transport links and where there is a plentiful supply of cooling water.
- The UK has large stocks of coal.
Disadvantages
- Burning coal produces carbon dioxide, a gas which makes it harder for the Sun's heat to escape into space. This makes the Earth's atmosphere warmer and can cause problems like making countries hotter and drier.
- Coal is not renewable. There are limited supplies which will run out one day.
- Coal is not easy to transport. It is heavy and has to be carried by rail or boat or truck.
Locations within the Energy Experience:
