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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.


Is coal a form of Solar energy?

Yes, the energy stored in coal came from the sun. Plants using an ingenious process called photosynthesis, use energy from the sun, to take carbon-dioxide from the air, use the carbon and release the oxygen back to the air. After the plant is eaten or dies and is decomposed or burned (the net effect is the same) the oxygen again breaks the chemical bonds, releasing the energy from the sun and liberating the carbon-dioxide back to the air to become the next generation of plants. Coal is carbon from the air and energy from the sun.


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.

Related Questions

What is a non example of coal?

Solar energy is a non-example of coal. Solar energy is generated from sunlight through solar panels, whereas coal is a fossil fuel that is mined from the earth.


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.


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.


What is the renewable property of coal and solar energy?

The sun?


How is solar energy useful to people?

it provides energy without burning 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.


How does the coal source work?

The energy in coal is chemical energy. The usual way to extract it is to burn the coal converting it to heat energy. This can then be turned into electrical energy Fuels like gasoline and coal are sources of energy which means they store energy


Why when we burn coal the energy released come originally from the sun?

When coal is burned, the energy released comes originally from the sun because coal is formed from organic matter such as dead plants and trees that captured solar energy through photosynthesis. This stored solar energy in the form of carbon is released when coal is burned, making it a fossil fuel.


What is stored in coal and petroleum which makes these resources very useful?

Solar energy is stored in coal and petroleum.


Is coal renewable energy?

Coal is a NON-renewable energy as when burnt, the Coal combusts, emitting carbon dioxide, among other harmful products. A renewable energy would be wind or tidal or solar energy for example.