1. Composition of Coal In addition to Carbon & moisture, coal also contains – Hydrogen – Sulfur – Nitrogen – Mercury Where do you suppose these go when coal is burned? What else is released during combustion?

2. Uses of Coal Coal has been used for over 2000 years as a fuel. 200 years ago, coal was used in steam engines because it had a higher energy content than wood. Today, coal is used almost exclusively to generate electricity.

3. Coal in “Coal”orado 57% of the electricity generated and used in Colorado comes from coal. Why?

4. Fuel TypeUnit TypeGenerating FacilitiesGenerating Units Generating Capacity (Megawatts*) FossilCoal16327,921 Fossil Natural Gas28695,834 Fossil Oil4816 Nuclear 231668 RenewableHydro2681511 Renewable Wind155 Renewable Refuse-derived fuel3667 Total8020416,022 MW Electrical Generation in Colorado *One Megawatt (MW) is one million watts.

5. 1. Chemical Energy 2. Thermal (heat) Energy 3. Mechanical/Kinetic Energy 4. Electrical Energy A Review of Energy Transformations

6. Coal is made of… Carbon Nitrogen Sulfur Hydrogen Mercury

7. When coal is burned Gases are released into the atmosphere Nitrous Oxides (NO x ) Sulfur Oxides (SO x ) Carbon Oxides (CO x ) Mercury Particulate Matter

8. Above and Beyond http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?pag e=coal_home-basics http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?pag e=coal_home-basics http://www.wfu.edu/~ylwong/balanceeq/com bust.html http://www.wfu.edu/~ylwong/balanceeq/com bust.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5174391/