Coal facts, figures, and information
What alternatives exist to the 948,000 tonnes of coal the UK still consumed in 2025? See our illustrated solutions. What’s the difference between opencast and deep coal mines?
Industrial uses of coal
Coal is not only burned to produce electricity. It is used to manufacture steel, cement, chemicals, bricks, and other products. Most significant of these consumers are steelworks followed by cement works. The coal used to produce 1 tonne of steel emits approximately 2 tonnes of CO2. Coal used in making steel is responsible for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s increasing. Coal used in cement works is responsible for around 7-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Evidence indicates carbon capture and storage will never be able to deliver the CO2 savings hoped for despite time and huge investment in research and testing. However, methods of making steel without coal offer better hopes of decarbonisation. More investment and political commitment is needed to accelerate and scale up these methods see Coal in Steel. Check out our resource on industrial uses of coal and the alternatives.
Pollution from burning coal
In some areas, coal is still burned to generate heat directly by burning it in the fireplaces homes. Where this domestic use of coal occurs, it’s a significant source of fine particulate matter air pollution within the home. Because of the small particulate size, the “toxins may enter the bloodstream and be transported around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs”. Other pollutants from burning coal include:
