by Spoiler | Mar 30, 2021 | Sites of Devastation, Transport and Usage
In a number of European countries, hard coal extraction continues, at huge costs for local communities and ecosystems. Romania Romania is home to one hard coal mining area and two lignite regions. In 2018, 22.1 percent of electricity was generated by burning coal....
by Spoiler | Mar 30, 2021 | Transport and Usage
Once it leaves the mine – on conveyor belts or trucks – the coal is usually transported to the nearest harbour. Many mines have their own railway lines, or even ports and shipping terminals, not only for exporting coal, but also to transport supplies and machinery to...
by Spoiler | Mar 30, 2021 | Transport and Usage
In most European countries, electricity demand has been stagnating or even declining for decades. Renewables and gas are supplying ever greater proportions of what is consumed, and higher CO2 trading prices (a tax on production of CO2) in Europe have dis-incentivised...
by Spoiler | Mar 30, 2021 | Transport and Usage
The largest and dirtiest hard coal power station in Europe (in terms of CO2 emissions) is Kozienice, located ten kilometres from the small town with the same name in central Poland. It is run by the Polish company Enea. It ranks third in sulphur dioxide emissions (see...
by Spoiler | Mar 30, 2021 | Transport and Usage
In addition to CO2 emissions which are used to rank Europe’s dirtiest power stations, coal combustion causes other types of air pollution, such as nitrous oxides and sulphur dioxides. Just four companies – Enea, RWE, PGE, and ENEL – were responsible for 46 percent of...
by Spoiler | Mar 30, 2021 | Transport and Usage
The role of coal-fired power stations in causing climate change is well-documented and widely understood. What is less well known is that coal is also used in steelworks, releasing large amounts of emissions into the atmosphere and relying on destructive mining...
