Coal as one of the world’s most important energy resources and a major contributor to electricity generation, has a long and complex history. As a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, coal is an organic sedimentary rock. Carbonized fossil remains of ancient plants and trees are largely found in the coal deposits. Many places in the world have discovered the presence of coal since ancient times, but the area that had the most ambitious attempts to use coal was Britain. It is believed that the first use of coal was in the Roman period when it was used to fuel furnaces for heat, and in a much smaller way for forging fire in forges. It was only by the Middle Ages that coal became an important fuel for Britain and the rest of Europe.
At the beginning of the 19th century, British coal industry saw a period of initial rapid growth due to the demand for coal for increasing steam power, iron production and railway locomotives. By the mid-19th century, coal production had grown significantly, and coal had replaced wood as the primary energy source. This period also saw advancements in mining techniques, with the invention of the Davy Lamp and other safety equipment. By the end of the 19th century, the production of coal had reached record highs, with the UK and the US being two of the largest coal producers in the world.
In the 20th century the production of coal has increased significantly due to the increased demand for electricity, which has become the world’s most important consumer energy source. This increase in production has been accompanied by improvements in mining technology such as hydraulic mining, hydraulic fracturing, and improved underground and open-pit mining equipment.
The environmental impacts of coal have also been well documented. Coal is a major contributor to air pollution and acid rain and is one of the most important sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which are due to combustion of coal and its derivatives. Mining of coal can also have an enormous impact on local landscapes due to the destruction of habitats that occur when large open-pit mining operations are undertaken.
In recent years there have been a number of moves to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining, such as the increasing use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, and advances in clean coal technology, including carbon capture and sequestration, which aim to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
In spite of its long and complex history, coal has remained a major global source of energy, and is likely to remain so in the foreseeable future. With advances in technology and an increased focus on renewable energy sources and reducing emissions, the impacts of coal production are likely to decrease over the long term.
