Coal-fired power station

Mohave Power Station, a 1,580 MW coal power plant near Laughlin, Nevada, out of service since 2005 due to environmental restrictions. SCE Mohave Generation Station (accessed 24/7/2008).

A coal-fired power station is a type of thermal power station that produces electricity, usually for public consumption, by burning coal to boil water, producing steam which drives a steam turbine, which turns an electrical generator. Power station operators play a key part in keeping the boilers fired equally and steam adjusted correctly to burn the coal in the most efficient way possible.

Coal is one of the most abundant fossil fuels on the planet. It is a relatively cheap fuel with some of the largest deposits in regions that are relatively stable politically, such as China, India and the United States, thus generally offering a more stable supply than natural gas and petroleum, the largest deposits of which are located in the more politically volatile Persian Gulf. However, in order to replace or even partially displace natural gas or petroleum, coal must be converted to liquid and/or gaseous fuels because petroleum is mostly used for transportation and the natural gas not used for electricity generation is used for space, water and industrial heating. The efficiencies and economics of such processes can make them unfeasible, especially if vehicles and/or heaters have to be modified or replaced to use the new fuel. In addition, if the waste gases are not captured, coal-derived fuels can produce more pollution than petroleum or natural gas, especially if carbon dioxide is counted as a pollutant.

As of 2009 the largest coal-fired power station is Kendal Power Station, South Africa. The world's most energy-efficient coal-fired power plant is the Avedøre Power Station in Denmark. One of world's least energy-efficient coal-fired power plants is the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria, Australia.

See also

• Environmental impact of the coal industry
• Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources
• List of thermal power station failures
• Fossil fuel power station
• Fossil fuel
• Coal analyzer
• Energy development