Coal: Its Role in Tomorrow's Technology (eBook)

A Sourcebook on Global Coal Resources

Charles Simeons (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF | EPUB

2013 | 1. Auflage
330 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
978-1-4831-4874-8 (ISBN)

Infos

Coal: Its Role in Tomorrow's Technology: A Sourcebook on Global Coal Resources focuses on the increasing consideration of coal as an alternative energy source, taking into consideration the mining, production, and research and development programs of various countries on this mineral. The book first offers information on energy demand, particularly noting the increasing consumption of energy around the world. The experience of the United States in meeting its energy demand through importation of oil and natural gas is discussed. The manuscript then examines the sources of coal and other resources, including types and properties of coal and disturbances in coal seams. The publication takes a look at the state of industries and coal production capabilities of various countries, such as the USSR, China, India, Poland, Australia, South Africa, and Canada. The text also considers the national research and development programs of the USSR, United States, China, India, Poland, France, and other countries on coal preparation, monitoring, and production. The manuscript discusses modern exploration programs on coal, mining plants and equipment, gasification of coal, and conversion of chemicals from coal. The text is a primary reference for readers interested in studying coal as an alternative energy source.

Textauszug

Chapter 1

ENERGY DEMAND

Publisher Summary

This chapter reviews the distribution of energy demands among the major developed countries of the world. It is an accepted fact that major national groupings account for much of the world’s energy demands; resulting in a global rise in gas prices and a lowering of energy consumption. Unfortunately, oil and gas reserves are not evenly distributed and are not easy to obtain. Countries using oil predominantly do not possess sufficient, while those owning the oil at present often do not use it. It is actually a part of political problem that governments have to solve. Coal also might provide an alternative source for power generation. In the case of the United States, the coal program is designed to encourage the use of new coal-based technologies and other technologies designed to burn coal in an environmentally and economically practical way while restoring to the native coal industry some stability. Also, there are countries where this alternative might not be a viable option. For example, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands produce little or no coal.

Three vast national groupings, U.S.A., Japan and Western Europe account for nearly two thirds of world energy demand. Oil naturally figures strongly in total needs. Back in 1973, there was a gap between production and self sufficiency of some 1600 mtce, but as the pressure created by these three blocks for world resources of gas and oil increased, prices rose and consumption fell.

In 1974, world consumption of energy according to figures presented to the U.K. National Energy Conference totalled 9240 mtce (5600 mtoe). However, the United Nations Organization statistics for 1976 showed this figure to have fallen, in 1975, to 8020 mtce. Industrial stagnation and attempts at conservation had played their part. Now, four years on, the industrialized world runs predominantly on oil. Natural gas and coal come next with water power and nuclear energy supplying only a small part of total demand. Clearly fossil fuels – coal, gas and oil – are vitally important. There is in fact no shortage of supply world wide.

As will be shown in Chapter 2, proven reserves of oil and gas recoverable with current technology are sufficient to meet demand until 1990. There are also prospects of further discoveries which will take us well beyond that point. Coal is even more plentiful with reserves for at least a further century.

Unfortunately these oil and gas reserves are not evenly distributed and are not easy to obtain. Those countries using oil predominantly do not possess sufficient, while those owning the oil at present often do not use it.

It is in part a political problem which governments have to solve. As the Workshop on Alternative Energy Strategies held in 1977 concluded:

“The interdependence of nations in the energy field requires an unprecedented degree of international collaboration in the future. In addition it requires the will to mobilize finance, labour, research and ingenuity with a common purpose never before attained in times of peace.”

And yet, a Gallup survey taken again in mid 1977 in the United States showed that a very large number of Americans did not even know that the United States imported oil - running then at a level of some sixty per cent. It is clear that the consumption of energy runs parallel with the level of the Gross Domestic Product so far as developed countries are concerned.

Figure 1 illustrates this clearly so far as Britain is concerned, where production remained static between 1974 and 1978 – although this forms part only of the GDP.

Fig. 1 Growth of GDP and primary energy consumption Britain 1950–1975.

Recently the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge England, made projections of energy demand growth rates for world regions employing assumptions for economic growth as the basis, using high and low levels. These are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Projected Energy Demand Growth Rates for World Regions

The following regions, sectors and fuel or energy carriers were surveyed.

World Region

Economic sector

Fuel or Energy Carrier

N. America

Transport

coal

W. Europe

Industry

oil

Japan

Residential

Gas

Rest of World (non communist)

Non energy use of fuel

Electricity

Although one energy source and one sector of activity only were examined, it would have been quite practicable to have extended the study.

The next stage is to examine the Community forecasts.

In table 1 WOCA indicates world outside communist area. These projections for potential energy supply to 1985 take into account the expected surplus capacity for oil production during this period which is expected to inhibit the growth of alternatives. From 1985 to 2000 a fast expansion is assumed for both coal and nuclear, although rates of expansion are constrained by the lead times for developing the industries. Although their projections were extended beyond 2000, to become involved in such crystal gazing might be tempting fate and, in any case, goes rather beyond “Tomorrow’s Technology” in respect of coal.

Examination of the European scene indicates the great future for coal as illustrated in tables 2 and 3 with respect to the Community.

TABLE 2

Community Energy Situation 1976 (mtoe)

TABLE 3

Community Energy Forecasts for 1985 (mtoe).

It is clear from table 2 that 74% of present energy consumption within the Community comes from sources with a limited life span, at the best up to 2000 A.D. The problem will begin before then, when demand begins to exceed the rate of recovery. The latter will become more difficult as wells reach exhaustion, pressures fall and exploration moves to deeper waters. Forecasts for 1985 within the Community are listed in table 3.

The great question to be answered is the role which Nuclear Energy is to play. Table 3 indicates a considerable increase from 2% of the total in 1976 to 11% in 1985. Even so, how great a stumbling block will political opposition to new nuclear plants prove to be? Will proposed fuel processing plants suffer a similar fate? Fortunately the British Windscale enquiry came down in favour of a processing plant being built there which both the British Government and House of Commons later endorsed so that the scheme can go ahead.

It is surprising to note that coal production is not expected to rise within the Community, imports still being regarded as necessary. Dependence upon imports will increase in total tonnage although the proportion will fall from 58% to around 50%. Originally it was intended that the dependence level should be down to 40% –clearly an impossible target.

Progress since 1958 is shown in table 4.

TABLE 4

Energy Dependence - European Community

1958

The six only

29%

1963

”

43%

1968

”

57%

1973

The nine

61%

1974

”

61%

1975

”

57%

1976

”

58%

1985

Forecast - mean

50%

It is clear that the nuclear programme will not be sufficiently advanced to assist materially by 1985 leaving a very considerable dependence upon coal to improve the “imports situation”.

A close examination of the needs of individual members of the nine produces the pattern shown in Table 5 with regard to imports of fuels as a percentage of total energy needs for 1974 and forecasts for 1985.

TABLE 5

Total Imports of all Fuels as a Percentage of Total Energy Needs for 1974 and 1985

1974

1985

Belgium

89.0

78.2

Britain

50.8

17.2 – nil

Denmark

99.6

98.1

France

79.0

63.2

Germany

52.9

56.0

Ireland

82.3

76.5

Italy

82.8

69.5 − 71.9

Luxembourg

99.4

83.5

Netherlands

6.0

34.5

It should however not be considered in isolation from the way in which the oil and gas element will be replaced.

Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands produce little or no coal. They will have to make good their oil and gas deficiencies from renewable sources of energy - unlikely to provide more...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 22.10.2013
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Natur / Ökologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Elektrotechnik / Energietechnik
• ISBN-10: 1-4831-4874-2 / 1483148742
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4831-4874-8 / 9781483148748