Could coal be used for energy?
Coal can be used for energy and is widely used in the production of electricity and other industrial processes worldwide.Fossil FuelCoal is a petroleum-based fossil fuel, like crude oil or natural gas. Fossil fuels develop over millions of years from decaying prehistoric plants and animals.ProductionIn 2008, according to the United States Energy Information Administration, 1,171.8 million short tons of coal were mined and sent to market, 93 percent of which was used specifically for electricity production.Steel Mill EnergyCoal is used to produce heat for smelting in steel mills. The coal is super heated in furnaces to make “coke,” which is responsible for smelting iron and other metals and giving steel its strength and flexibility.Types of Energy Producing CoalCoal is actually classified according to the amount of carbon it contains, and, ultimately, the amount of energy it can produce, the higher the carbon, the higher the energy output. Anthracite contains 86 to 97 percent carbon, bi
