Since coal is a non-renewable source of energy, it is important that we are actively preparing for a future without its presence. After all, the experts have suggested that we only have enough coal to last another 150 years at current rates. Here at Pearson Fuels, we have been supplying coal for over 35 years which speaks to our credibility and reliability as coal merchants. In this blog, we are going to go over what the future will look like without coal…

Renewable Alternatives

Over the past decade, the government has been introducing renewable energy supplies in order to reduce our consumption of coal. This includes but its not limited to: thermal solar power, wind power, geothermal power and photovoltaic power. In fact, these alternatives have managed to reduce the use of coal in power production from 41% to 37%. However, when the fossil fuel are eventually depleted, these renewable sources will very likely become our main source of energy.

The Steel Industry

Steel is created by reducing iron oxide ore using coking coal. Without coal however, it is entirely probable that we will not be able to make new steel. After all, coal offers the best carbon dioxide content that makes the process efficient. With this said, steel can theoretically be recycled indefinitely which means that we won’t have no steel, we just wouldn’t be able to make any new steel.

Natural Gas

The coal industries biggest competitor is natural gas, a source of power that is said to have less of an impact on the environment. In fact, it has jumped from 20% use to 33% use in just a single decade. As a result, it is likely that natural gas could be the best solution to a future without coal. With this said, it is important to take the methane emissions that come with using natural gas into consideration, as many say this could be just as damaging as the CO2 emissions from coal.

As a whole, we are very reliant on the way that coal allows us to generate power and heat in our homes. This means that it is very important that the government is searching for new and inventive ways to sustain our requirements. Luckily, coal is still available in abundance in 2018 and the team here at Pearson Fuels have a wide variety to choose from! Whether you are stocking up for winter or prefer the aesthetics, get in contact with the best coal merchants around to find out more today!