Why has the world started to mine coal again?
Why has the world started to mine coal again?
With climate change looming, it seems so completely backwards to go back to using it again.
Is it coal miners pushing to keep their jobs? Fear of nuclear power? Is purely politically motivated, or are there genuinely people who believe coal is clean?
Edit, I will admit I was ignorant to the usage of coal nowadays.
Now I'm more depressed than when I posted this
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Will renewables ever be viable in countries like the UK or Ireland, where there isn't actually a whole lot of land for things like solar and wind?
Renewables are already viable in the UK and making up an ever increasing percentage of electricity generation. Additionally, the time when it's windiest in the UK is also the time when electricity demand is at its highest.
Using coal for electricity in the UK is now rare. Coal only made up 1.5% of electricity generation in the UK in 2022. Just ten years ago coal generation was nearly half.
Seriously? I didn't know it was anywhere near that low. That's great assuming they haven't just replaced it with gas or something similar, although gas is supposed to be better than coal.
There is tonnes of sea around the UK and Ireland and the UK are operating among the largest offshore wind farms. Also the offshore wind is generally stronger and more consistent, which is why they continue to expand their capacities. The UK is currently at 14 GW and Ireland is trying to catch up, now planning a 3 GW farm.
There's tons of land for wind in the UK, the issue is Nimbys that don't want them spoiling their view.
And it kills birds despite household cats being genocidal murderers.
Studies show that wind turbines kill a fraction of a percentage of the total bird population. Not ideal, but ultimately negligible.
Yes, but it would require government spending and in the UK we currently have theives and billionnaires in charge who don't even think kids should be able to eat at school.
Wind turbines can be located off shore. Energy can also be harvested from wave action.