The Anonymous Widower

The Onward March Of Coal

From probably about the 1960s, I’ve always been a passionate opponent of burning coal.

Why my objection started I’m not sure, but it could have been meeting people at University, whose fathers and grandfathers had worked down mines.

There was also the disaster of Aberfan, which had an amazing affect on the UK. And then fifty and more years ago, there was always reports of people in the UK being killed underground in coal mines.

It could have been the optimism of the times, where for a time it looked like by the 1990s, we would have affordable fusion-based nuclear power, that would produce no nuclear waste. I remember ZETA.

I also worked briefly for Frederick Snow and Partners in the early 1970s, where I read about how a properly-designed Severn barrage could generate about a tenth of our electricity.

Only later did I learn about the pollution and carbon emissions of burning coal and that made me all the more certain that coal should be left in the ground.

In the 1960s, we missed so many opportunities to wean ourselves off coal and the myth of the noble miner grew.  No-one I’ve ever met, who’s been in a coal mine, wouldn’t have jumped at a nice, clean and much safer job.

I always remember about 1970 or so, the Guardian carried an article about how miners, who of course knew how to handle themselves in small spaces could be transformed into a rolling workforce that would insulate our houses properly.

Incidentally, I now live in a properly-insulated house for the first time in forty years and my heating bills are exceeding low. In fact because of the problems with the heating system, I just have the heating on very low and rely on the sun for the little heat I need. The insulation levels which are obviously very good, keep me warm. All houses should be brought up to these standards.  If the house is not capable of being improved, it should be demolished.

So this morning I now read, that the world is turning back to coal.

This is totally wrong.

As coal is almost pure carbon, every tonne of the filthy stuff produces a lot of carbon dioxide when it burns. Coal is also riddled with impurities, which when they burn produce some really noxious impurities.  Probably not much, but I wouldn’t live near a coal-fired power station.

At least with gas, there is a lot of hydrogen in the fuel, which burns to produce water. In fact for the same amount of energy, natural gas only produces about 40% of the carbon dioxide. Correct the figure, if you know better.

I won’t live that long, but in the future those on this planet, will regret all this burning of coal.

November 22, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, World | Aberfan Disaster, Coal, Severn Barrage