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Coal is composed of old plant material that was chemically altered over the course of millions of years. The coal contains energy from sunlight that the plants captured and stored via photosynthesis.
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What is the relationship between coal and solar power?
They can both be used to generate electricity. Coal is solar energy trapped by plants millions of year ago. It contains toxic materials including mercury that is released into the atmosphere when it is burned. The carbon dioxide removed over millions of years is released quickly into the atmosphere. Solar power is clean but cannot be cheaply stored to provide energy on cloudy days and at night. It may be cheaper to combine solar and coal energy sources to overcome the limitations of both. For instance solar thermal energy can be used to turn coal into gas, which can be cleaned to remove toxic chemicals. The solar-gas can be stored to generate clean energy 24 hours a day. A further description of how this might be done, combining solar and coal energy is here: http://blog.gerbilnow.com/2011/11/energy-business-opportunity.html
Does solar energy create as much energy as coal?
"Create as much energy" is poorly defined. The amount of energy produced from solar energy will depend on the surface area used for solar panels, the weather, the efficiency of the panels, and for how long it is used. Similarly, the amount of energy produced by a coal power plant would depend on its size, its efficiency (which of course may also vary), and for how long it is used. Please think about what exactly you want to compare.
Are fossil fuels stored solar energy?
Yes, the energy in fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) came originally from the sun.
Why is solar energy a clean form of energy?
Solar energy is claimed as a clean form of energy as no carbon dioxide or nitrogen and sulfur oxides are produced during the operation of solar plants or solar cells (as is the case when using fossil fuels as coal, oil, or natural gas). However, solar energy is not absolutely clean if we look to the overall solar cycle including the production of solar cells or mirrors as well including the decommissioning of these solar plants or cells. Around 50 toxic elements are included in the production of solar cells or mirrors. In this regards, nuclear, wind, and hydro-electric power plants are even cleaner than solar power plants.
Why is solar energy more efficient in space?
The energy from fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) needs oxygen to burn. This is not available in space. What is available is lots of sunlight. So solar power is the best and most efficient answer to provide power in space.
How are coal and solar energy alike?
Coal and solar energy are alike because they both are having to do with energy and they are both formed ny the sun or have sun in them. Although, solar energy is renewable and coal is non-renewable they both have some similarities.
How are coal and solar energy simliar?
The only thing similar is each produces energy. The coal is the dirtiest form while solar is the cleanest.
What is the renewable property of coal and solar energy?
The sun?
Does fossil fuels such as coal store chemical kinetic energy?
Fossil fuels such as coal store chemical kinetic energy?
In what form does coal store energy from the sun?
Coal stores energy from the sun in the form of chemical energy
What does coal store energy from the sun as what?
Electromagnetic Energy
How is solar energy useful to people?
it provides energy without burning coal.
Why use coal as a energy?
Coal is abundant and easy to harvest from the earth to produce electricity relative to nuclear energy. Solar energy is abundant but difficult to harvest compared to coal.
In what sense is energy from coal actually solar energy?
Coal is derived from plant material which was produced by solar energy during photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is roughly H20 + CO2 + solar energy = Ch20 + O2, which converts CO2 and water to oxygen and plant material as the plant grows.
Types of energy used in China?
Coal, wind, hydroelectricity, and solar. Coal is most used.
How is coal energy better than solar engery?
Most forms of solar energy rely on daylight, so solar energy can't be used during night, coal fired power stations can be used day and night.Coal power at it's simplest (coal fires) can be used for heating rooms and houses.
What is stored in coal and petroleum which makes these resources very useful?
Solar energy is stored in coal and petroleum.
