Coal's enduring presence acknowledges countries' autonomy in selecting energy sources that meet their specific needs, complementing renewables during intermittent periods and serving as a crucial factor for coal-dependent nations to ensure energy security, affordability, and reliability.
Every coal value participant can contribute both directly and indirectly to SCS — spanning Pre-Combustion, Combustion, and Beyond Combustion — with abatement technologies alone capable of capturing up to 99% of emissions.
§ 02 — THE LIBRARY
Coal Hard Facts.
How is Coal Made?
Coal, a fossil fuel, originates from plant remains that date back millions of years. Over millions of years of geological processes, heat and pressure transformed organic matter into the dense energy-rich material we know as coal today.
Coal is found in underground seams and is extracted through mining — either surface (open-cut) or underground methods, depending on the depth and thickness of the seam.
Countries choose coal for diverse reasons.
Countries now face the reality that no silver bullet exists to solve their energy challenges. The global energy crisis of 2021–23 underscored the resilience of coal as a power generation source, mitigating severe consequences that could have escalated without coal as a backup.
The closure of European industrial operations and the risk of populations suffering through unaffordable energy costs or no energy at all exemplifies the crucial role of coal.
In many non-OECD Asian nations, coal is the most cost-effective and reliable electricity source, enabling economic growth. Moreover, coal's contribution to energy security, affordability, and reliability (the energy trilemma) benefits the energy economy, providing essential backup to renewables and supporting high-value manufacturing jobs, research and development, and job security within the coal value chain, particularly in mining operations.