About 80% of the world’s energy requirements are met by three fuels; coal, natural gas and oil. They have likely brought on the climate crisis we now face, as they trigger the emission of carbon dioxide.
- The worst culprit of them all is coal.
- Coal emits nearly twice as much carbon dioxide as natural gas and about 60% more than oil, on a kilogram-to-kilogram comparison.
Principal emissions result from coal combustion:
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2): Contributes to acid rain and respiratory illnesses
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx): Contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses
- Particulates: Contribute to smog, haze, and respiratory illnesses and lung disease
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): The primary greenhouse gas produced from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas)
- Mercury and other heavy metals: These have been linked to both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals
- Fly ash and bottom ash: These are residues created when power plants burn coal.
Coal Power in India
- The power sector in India accounts for 49% of total carbon dioxide emissions, compared with the global average of 41%.
- As of February 2022, the installed capacity for coal-based power generation across the country was 2.04 lakh megawatt (MW). This accounts for about 51.5% of power from all sources.
- This compares with about 25,000 MW of capacity based on natural gas as fuel, or a mere 6.3% of all installed capacity.
- Renewable power accounted for 1.06 lakh MW or 27%.
(Sources: The Hindu and US Energy Information)
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