The term Clean Coal Technologies is another of the most important mining terms to be aware of. Coal washing is the process of getting rid of all the undesirable materials by washing them off the coal.
Is Clean Coal Really Possible?
Renewable power generation technologies have been promoted heavily, with significant government support, as alternatives to coal because coal is considered a dirty fuel. A significant fraction of all greenhouse gas emissions come from coal-fired power generation, and the number of coal-burning power plants in the world continues to increase. Called "underground coal gasification," this new technology effectively allows coal to be burned efficiently with a huge advantage: the coal never has to be brought up from underground.
The coal is gasified underground, and a cleaner combustion is the result.
The term "clean coal" may finally be accurate for the first time.
Coal Power
Mining is typically used to collect coal wither underground or pit (surface) mining. Coal has been used as fuel for about 10,000 years.
In today's society coal is utilized for energy by combustion or burning. About 75% of the world's coal is used to provide electricity. Coals can also be converted into liquid fuels by several processes. Unfortunately there are many environment disadvantages to using coal power. Coal releases the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane which cause global warming. Waste products from burning coal are uranium and other heavy metals which can be quite dangerous, burning coal waste results in acid rain, coal mining can damage the grounds infrastructure, create dust and fly ash from coal burning is the largest cause of background radiation exposure for humans. Coal power is popular because coal can be found and mined in over a hundred countries, many more than for oil production.