Coal-fired power station

Mohave Power Station, a 1,580 MW coal power plant near Laughlin, Nevada, out of service since 2005 due to environmental restrictions. SCE Mohave Generation Station (accessed 24/7/2008).

A coal-fired power station produces electricity, usually for public consumption, by burning coal to boil water, producing steam which drives a steam turbine which turns an electrical generator. Power station operators play a key part in keeping the boilers fired equally and steam adjusted correctly to burn the coal in the most efficient way possible.

Coal is a relatively cheap fuel with some of the largest deposits in politically stable regions (China, India and the US) thus generally offering a more stable supply than natural gas and oil, the largest deposits of which are located in the more politically volatile Persian Gulf.

As of 2009^[update] the largest coal-fired power station is Kendal Power Station, South Africa^[1]. The world's most energy-efficient coal fired power plant is the Avedøre Power Station in Denmark.^[2] One of world's least energy-efficient coal fired power plant is the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria, Australia.

See also

• Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources
• Power generating equipment efficiency and carbon footprint
• Fossil fuel power station
• Coal analyzer

References

1. ^ "Article: World's largest coal-fired power station. (Kendal Power Station in South Africa)". Highbeam Research. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16505890.html. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
2. ^ Avedøre Power Station from the web page of DONG Energy