The U.K. Just Went 55 Hours Without Using Coal for the First Time in History

[Fweethawt]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-19/u-k-goes-a-record-55-hours-without-coal-as-clean-power-expands

 

Coal, which fueled the world’s biggest economies for more than a century, is increasingly losing out to renewables.

 

The latest example of how one of the dirtiest fossil fuels is being squeezed out of the market came this week in Britain, which went for a record 55 hours without its any of its power plants producing electricity by burning coal.

[florduh]

It is astounding that in the 21st Century with all our technological advances doing things we couldn't dream of even a few years ago, people are still reliant on fossil fuels. How can it be due to anything other than an artificial market that keeps the money flowing to an outdated but politically influential industry?

[pantheory]

1 hour ago, florduh said:

It is astounding that in the 21st Century with all our technological advances doing things we couldn't dream of even a few years ago, people are still reliant on fossil fuels. How can it be due to anything other than an artificial market that keeps the money flowing to an outdated but politically influential industry?

 

Coal is a very cheap (although dirty) fuel source.  Many mines are on the earth's surface with little relative cost concerning its discovery.  After digging it out It often requires little processing other than breaking it up into stokeable size pieces. It is easily hauled without expensive processing, by train, truck, or ship.  It is a far cheaper fuel source for electricity than any alternative, providing that sulfur and other of the most expensive emission control processes are not needed or legally required. China is the biggest producer and consumer of coal. In poorer countries I believe coal will continue as a major fuel source until at least the 22nd century.

 

https://www.mining-technology.com/features/featurethe-worlds-biggest-coal-consumers-4353695/

[disillusioned]

6 hours ago, pantheory said:

 

Coal is a very cheap (although dirty) fuel source.  Many mines are on the earth's surface with little relative cost concerning its discovery.  After digging it out It often requires little processing other than breaking it up into stokeable size pieces. It is easily hauled without expensive processing, by train, truck, or ship.  It is a far cheaper fuel source for electricity than any alternative, providing that sulfur and other of the most expensive emission control processes are not needed or legally required. China is the biggest producer and consumer of coal. In poorer countries I believe coal will continue as a major fuel source until at least the 22nd century.

 

https://www.mining-technology.com/features/featurethe-worlds-biggest-coal-consumers-4353695/

 

This is true, but horrifying.