What’s coal?

Coal is a black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that can be burned for fuel and used to generate electricity. It is composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons, which contain energy that can be released through combustion.

Coal is the largest source of energy for generating electricity in the world, and the most abundant fossil fuel up to now

 

Coal is fossil fuel?

Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient organisms. Because coal takes millions of years to develop and there is a limited amount of it, it is a nonrenewable resource.

The conditions that would eventually create coal began to develop about 300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. During this time, Earth was covered in wide, shallow seas and dense forests. The seas occasionally flooded the forested areas, trapping plants and algae at the bottom of a swampy wetland. Over time, the plants (mostly mosses) and algae were buried and compressed under the weight of overlying mud and vegetation.

As the plant debris sifted deeper under Earth’s surface, it encountered increased temperatures and higher pressure. Mud and acidic water prevented the plant matter from coming into contact with oxygen. Due to this, the plant matter decomposed at a very slow rate and retained most of its carbon (source of energy).

These areas of buried plant matter are called peat bogs. Peat bogs store massive amounts of carbon many meters underground. Peat itself can be burned for fuel, and is a major source of heat energy in countries such as Scotland, Ireland, and Russia.

Under the right conditions, peat transforms into coal through a process called carbonization. Carbonization takes place under incredible heat and pressure. About three meters (10 feet) of layered vegetation eventually compresses into a third of a meter (one foot) of coal!

Coal exists in underground formations called “coal seams” or “coal beds.” A coal seam can be as thick as 30 meters (90 feet) and stretch 1,500 kilometers (920 miles).

Coal seams exist on every continent. The largest coal reserves are in the United States, Russia, China, Australia, and India.

Although there are still many disadvantages, coal is still an important source of fuel in the industry and thermal power, accounting for 1/4 of the world’s primary energy demand. In order to meet market demand, Thuan Hai - the pioneer enterprise in coal importing in Vietnam - always tries to maintain a stable supply of coal at competitive prices so that Thuan Hai can supply sustainable energy solutions to customers.

 

Thuan Hai Corporation

Address:  Thuan Hai Building, Lot Vb.20a2, Street 24, Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, Tan Thuan Dong Ward, District 7, City. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hotline: 1900 1766

Email:  marketing@thuanhai.com.vn

Website: https://thuanhai.com.vn/ 

>>> Learn more: Coal and coal properties 

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Reference source:

Coal (education.nationalgeographic.org)