Do you know that most of the planet’s electrical power originates from burning coal? And that this is most likely one of the leading sources of the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming and climate change.
It’s next to impossible to envision that each time you turn on a television that you will be partly to blame for the discharge of pollutants into the air, but in reality that is just what is taking place.
Estimations fluctuate, but in the US around 50 % of the electric power generated comes from burning coal. In China, the planet’s biggest state, coal comprises more than 70% of the country’s energy usage.
Coal is combusted to produce high temperatures, and then the high temperature is utilized to turn water into steam. That vapor is pressurised and then pushed through turbines, making the turbines spin. It’s the rotation of the turbines that produces the electricity.
Even though there are alternate sources of heat to create the steam (eg. nuclear energy, geothermal, and natural gas amongst others) coal is definitely the most frequent energy resource used.
Burning coal releases several greenhouse gases and also various other harmful gases and solids into the air. Some of the contaminants released are:
- CO2 – the most significant cause of climate change,
- SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide) – which mixes with water to create acid rain,
- Nitrogen Oxide – a significant cause of smog
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) – a poison which can be fatal
- particulates (small airborne particles)
- deadly metals like mercury
- heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and even uranium
Power firms, just like every company, react to demand from customers. If there is demand from customers for electrical energy then someone can make money from delivering it! And because burning coal is the most convenient and cheap ways to generate the electricity, then it will, of course, continue to be used.
Therefore, in a very real sense, every time you switch on an appliance or lightswitch, somewhere there will be some coal being burned to produce that electrical power.
There are a number of alternate sources of electricity that are starting to make their presence felt in today’s world. Solar, wind power, hydroelectric power, and now even wave power are being gathered and transformed into electrical energy. In this superior technological age we are in essentially any type of energy can be converted into electrical power.
And with developments in technological know-how it means that harnessing this renewable source of power for your own private use is turning out to be much more feasible. In fact many folk are looking to get off-grid, produce their very own electric power and accordingly lessen the demand for electric power made through the burning of coal.
To discover even more about how generating your own electricity supply may be possible, have a look at this write-up regarding how straightforward it is to assemble your own home windmills and begin to funnel some absolutely free renewable and endless energy for yourself.
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