What are the advantages of coal?

Answer by  apsaras (408)

Coal is readily available and mined in many places around the world. It can be easily stored and used directly to generate energy directly by combustion without the need for special infrastructure requirements (like solar, nuclear or wind power) or expensive processing (like oil and gas). It is thus one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of energy available.

Answer by  JohnAndrew (199)

Coal is cheap to process and is easily obtainable. Unlike oil, coal mining is inexpensive as compared to oil drilling which requires advanced machinery. Also, unlike other sources of energy, it does not require special infrastructures to generate energy - it is simply burnt.

Answer by  Jim23 (303)

First of all coal makes electricity and everyone uses electricity. Coal is safe you can cart it around cheaply. We don't have to rely on the weather for coal, it is already there, unlike solar, or wind power, where it is weather permitting. Coal is abundant and inexpensive and can be found in the USA and that's a valuable commodity.

Answer by  quisqualis (1756)

Coal has advantages if it can be burned close to its source, and when it is abundant. Then, it is an inexpensive energy source. However, coal burning produces a lot of pollutants, including mercury and acid rain, along with a lot of carbon dioxide. It is not the best energy source, since natural gas is less polluting and fairly cheap.