Finland Confirms Coal Exit Ahead of Schedule in 2029

[Adam Varga + 123]

Finland is planning to ban the use of coal in energy production ahead of schedule in 2029 and encourage energy companies to abandon the fossil fuel already in 2025. The Finnish government is also looking into a large-scale subsidy package worth 90 million euros that will reward energy firms for ditching the fossil fuel ahead of time. Half of the subsidies will be targeted at the renewable co-generation of heat and power, and the other half at other technology alternatives to coal.
 

[Stormysaga + 62]

It should be easy for Finland to ban coal with only 10 percent of its power sourced from coal. But they are still behind other Scandinavians in this transition to a clean energy.

[LAOIL + 33]

If they succeed in this ban, they won't be dependent on Russia because 66 percent of their coal comes from Russia. 

[ForCES 0]

Energetic independence is a key factor for sure... Maybe there are a few other reasons ? Check out https://bit.ly/ExitCoalNow for more information

Edited July 4, 2018 by ForCES
typo

[Tom Kirkman + 8,860]

5 hours ago, ForCES said:

Energetic independence is a key factor for sure... Maybe there are a few other reasons ? Check out https://bit.ly/ExitCoalNow for more information

Moderator note: this link is an anti-coal petition. 

A bit unusual to link to on an energy forum.

[Jan van Eck + 7,558]

Don't forget, there are (basically) two kinds of coal:  Anthracite, or "hard coal," and Bituminous, or "soft coal"  (sometimes called Lignite). The difference is in how long it has been sitting in the earth getting pressed into coal.  Anthracite is 50% carbon, burns nice and hot, and usually leaves not too much smog behind.  Bituminous is widespread, lots of the stuff, cheap, and near the surface.  What you burn determines what you get for pollution.  

Anthracite is a great coal for steam locomotives, lots of heat and power to extract, and thus also great for electric generation, but is expensive unless you happen to be sitting right on top of it.  Bituminous is best converted to oil, and that oil burns very clean, all the crud is taken out in the conversion process.  Indeed, the best quality diesel is made directly from coal!

[NickW + 2,714]

7 hours ago, Jan van Eck said:

Don't forget, there are (basically) two kinds of coal:  Anthracite, or "hard coal," and Bituminous, or "soft coal"  (sometimes called Lignite). The difference is in how long it has been sitting in the earth getting pressed into coal.  Anthracite is 50% carbon, burns nice and hot, and usually leaves not too much smog behind.  Bituminous is widespread, lots of the stuff, cheap, and near the surface.  What you burn determines what you get for pollution.  

Anthracite is a great coal for steam locomotives, lots of heat and power to extract, and thus also great for electric generation, but is expensive unless you happen to be sitting right on top of it.  Bituminous is best converted to oil, and that oil burns very clean, all the crud is taken out in the conversion process.  Indeed, the best quality diesel is made directly from coal!

Bituminous and Lignite are separate categories of coal.

In terms of ranking by btu content Bituminous coal is 24-35MJ / Kg Whereas Lignite is 10-20MJ /Kg

Appearance is different too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bituminous_coal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignite

 

USA coal ranking chart

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal#/media/File:Coal_Rank_USGS.png

 

Edited July 6, 2018 by NickW

[NickW + 2,714]

I would assume getting this MOFO (IF)  fired up next year will be the reason they can exit coal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olkiluoto_Nuclear_Power_Plant