12.1. Coal and Natural Gas

Question 1

Coal Overview

Answer 1

• Dirtiest Fossil Fuel
• Coal production is dominated by China, Russia and Australia who between them hold over 60% of the world’s reserves of coal.
• • Majority is from China (42.5% of world total)
• • In 20 years, Asia’s production has doubled to 2 billion tonnes of coal.
• Asia is also the largest consumer of coal
• • 2 billion tonnes in 2008
• Previously, many countries in Europe (e.g. UK) were the
  largest producers and also consumers.
• • Heavy deindustrialisation reduced this.

Question 2

Worldwide Coal consumption

Answer 2

• Declining worldwide consumption
• Europe 75% use of coal to 10% use of coal
• In Europe and the USA, the accessible deposits of coal have been exhausted
• Costs risen - machinery and wages
• BUT global consumption is still rising
• May continue to decrease because of environmental concerns and climate change

Question 3

Problems with Coal

Answer 3

• Huge eco concerns
• • Coal releases the most amount of greenhouse gases
• • Because of the huge link with climate change, HICs are moving away from coal due to global concerns
• • Coal and coal production is locally environmentally damaging
• • Coal dust pollutes the atmosphere, locally, soil, water courses
• If are u live near coal mines, you may get lung diseases

Question 4

Cleaning Coal?

Answer 4

• Whilst coal is recognised as being the most environmentally damaging and polluting of all fossil fuels, steps are being taken to mitigate the amount of harm
• Technologies are currently being developed to prolong coal production such as Carbon Capture and sequestration (CCS) - capture and don’t release it
• To reduce environmental impact of coal, you need to use more energy

Question 5

Natural Gas Overview

Answer 5

• Cleanest fossil fuel
• 1990-2015: production of gas increased from approximately 2,000 billion cubic metres to 3,500 billion cubic metres (risen by 75%)
• Largest producers - North America and Eurasia
• • USA accounts for over 20% of global production, with Russia producing 19%
• Production is determined by factor endowment
• Compared to oil there is a much stronger correlation between gas production and consumption
• The countries that produce gas and countries closest to these countries consume a lot of natural gas as gas is difficult to transport. It is transported by pipelines’
• Local demand can easily determine how much is transported

Question 6

Natural Gas Consumption trends

Answer 6

• Natural gas is considered to be the cheapest and cleanest of fossil fuels, so therefore is the fastest growing
• Fracking cut USA costs of gas by 50% - technology should expand globally (but local eco concerns)
• Allowed countries to produce more gas
• Fracking allowed them to get access to new reserves (new technology) → increased supply of energy → Price of gas fell → Consumption increased
• This technique offers solution in the short / medium term
• Unsustainable in the long term due to environmental implications