Hard coal is the main raw material used in power engineering in many countries. In Poland, share of this material in electric energy production is 93 percent.
Coal is a prevailing fuel used in electric energy production in Poland. About 95 % of all the energy produced is gained by means of coal. As far as electric energy is concerned, 55% of its production comes from hard coal, and brown coal constitutes about 40% of overall production. It can be assumed that in the nearby future no significant changes in carriers structure to produce electric energy will occur.
Cost of hard coal comprises 18-20 % of the overall cost of electric energy (from 300 to 360 zl/MWh). Due to high capital costs in both power engineering sector, as well as hard coal mining sector, significant price increase may come in forthcoming years. The increase of hard coal production cost, and therefore the cost of electric energy, will also result from further extend of mining depth, as well as the necessity to reduce the negative influence that mining has on the environment.
The price of electric energy produced from coal belongs at present to the cheapest, compared with energy coming from other energy carriers. Taking into consideration world situation on petroleum and natural gas markets, the price of electric energy produced from coal, in comparison with price of energy coming from other energy carriers, will still be among the cheapest in the nearest future.
The situation regarding price of heat produced from coal is very similar. The price of coal-produced heat is lower than prices of heat produced from other carriers.
Share of hard coal in electric energy production in different countries (%).
|
Poland |
93 |
Israel |
71 |
The Czech Republic |
59 |
|
The Republic of South Africa |
93 |
Kazakhstan |
70 |
Greece |
58 |
|
Australia |
80 |
India |
69 |
USA |
50 |
|
China |
78 |
Marocco |
69 |
Germany |
47 |
