Coal

[BritDownUnder]

It would be interesting to know where that coal came from.

I agree a very good decision to buy it seeing as the UK is going into Winter and is seemingly run by idiots. I'd have gotten five tonnes myself.

[Forever_Winter]

It would be interesting to know where that coal came from.

I agree a very good decision to buy it seeing as the UK is going into Winter and is seemingly run by idiots. I'd have gotten five tonnes myself.

Had a check BDU and it states as follows:

'High quality Anthracite coal damaged / broken nuts from the following countries*

- United States of America (USA)
- European Union (including the UK)
- Indonesia
- Republic of South Africa

* Only the main countries of supply are listed. Other countries of supply could also be used.

I was surprised to see Australia omitted from this list....

Apparently the coal is cheaper as anthracite is normally supplied in 'nuts' of a standard size but if they get broken then it's not worth as much and they get sold off separately in bags / pallets of their own

Wrt the amount of fuel purchased; I still had well over half a ton left plus was short of space for more than a ton. I try and burn wood before i get to the coal

[BritDownUnder]

I think Australia is just too far away for the supply to be economic. Having to burn a lot of bunker fuel to get all that coal is probably just not economic when there are closer sources of coal from Europe and the US among others. Coal as well as oil in Australia is quite expensive at the moment. If the ships delivering the coal were powered by coal themselves then the economics might change. That would require a big change in engine technology.

[adam2]

I have just purchased half a ton of anthracite, as the last lot was stolen when I was in hospital. Anthracite is still allowed as it is naturally smokeless.
£325 for half a ton delivered.
I burn wood normally but keep a reserve of coal for emergencies.

[BritDownUnder]

My parents always said that burning anthracite was like burning gold and this was in the 1970s. I often admired the pieces as a child as they were shiny.

People in the UK should have shown a bit of foresight and buried some coal in their gardens. I have no idea if burning coal in Australia is still legal. It just doesn't seem to be done over here.

Interesting that people are willing to steal coal. I should think that half a ton of anthracite would just about fit in a 55 gallon oil drum. But I do recall hearing on the news when still living in the UK that people with Liverpudlian accents stole all the stones on a paved street in Yorkshire.

[Mark]

The end of coal in the UK ??

Power station's last coal delivery arrives by rail:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckkg0wl7dkro

At the turn of the 20th Century, coal was used to generate more than 95% of the UK's energy, but last year it had fallen to 1%.

[Ralphw2]

The proposed new coal mine in Yorkshire has been turned down by the high court on the basis that it was incompatible with the govenrments legal duty to work towards zero carbon. Expect further legal chanllenges...

[adam2]

Coal burning for electricity generation is to cease totally in the next few days, as the last coal burning power station closes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y35qz73n8o

This only applies to national grid electricity, and not to any private industrial generating plant that burns coal, but there cant be much, indeed any, of that left these days.

A very little electricity is also generated from coal at fairgrounds that use traditional coal burning showman's engines. And of course a few coal burning steam railway locomotives are still used, the electricity used for lighting the carriages is generated indirectly from coal.
Consider also industrial museums and the like that use steam engines, some of which generate electric power.

And steam ships or steam road vehicles with electric lights !

These uses are however minute, and retention arguably justified for historical or heritage reasons.

[Ralphw2]

Also the coal fired port Talbot blast furnaces shut down today, with promises that an electric arc furnace will replace it

[adam2]

Also the coal fired port Talbot blast furnaces shut down today, with promises that an electric arc furnace will replace it

I rather doubt that the electric arc furnace will go ahead whilst the UK has such expensive electricity. UK electricity prices are among the highest in Europe.
An arc furnace is a large load and may require expensive grid upgrades to supply that load without interference to other customers.

[Forever_Winter]

I bought another half ton of coal (anthracite) today. I couldn't help myself as it was on special offer . Saying that, I have a load of wood fuel ready, so hopefully shouldn't need to use it this year unless in an emergency