Coal

Coal-fired power plants release over 60 air pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide.

Coal-fired power plants release over 60 air pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide

Image by Davipt via Flicker

1. Coal-fired power plants release over 60 air pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide.
2. In 2006, coal provided 25% of the world’s primary energy supply and created 40% of worldwide CO2 emissions from fossil fuel. 
3. China uses coal for 80% of its energy, consuming nearly 2.5 billion tonnes a year, 45% of which is used by the industrial sector, often to manufacture goods for offshore companies.
4. In 2007, air pollution caused more than 350,000 premature deaths in China.
5. New Zealand’s coal-fired power station at Huntly provides 12% of our electricity, chewing through 2.5 million tonnes of coal per year.
6. Coal production in New Zealand increased to 4.8 million tonnes in 2007. Nearly half is exported—a whopping 2.19 million tonnes.
7. New Zealand has 26 operating coalmines: four underground and 22 opencast.
8. State-owned Solid Energy produces over 80% of New Zealand’s coal. Its proposed Cypress mine at Happy Valley on the West Coast would turn 1,050 square kilometres of bush into two 96-metre-deep pits.
9. The five million tonnes of coal produced by the Cypress mine would create over 10 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The mine may also destroy the habitat of threatened species: the great spotted kiwi and the giant native Poelliphanta snail.
10. ‘Clean coal’ technology for carbon capture and storage at coal-fired power stations is being developed—but will not be viable until 2030.