Energy and Changes in the Environment - Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Advances in Transportation and Power - page 48

by infusing oxygen into the methane found in coal. There has been more
focus on coal, the most abundant energy resource in the United States,
China and other countries. (See Table 2-4)
Table 2-4. World Coal Production (million of tons)
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1980 1990 1995 1999
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World total 4200 5386 5161 4737
China 684 1190 1537 1118
United States 830 1029 1033 1099
India 126 233 298 328
Australia 116 226 267 321
Russia NA NA 296 276
South Africa 132 193 227 248
Germany 532 514 274 226
Poland 254 237 220 190
Ukraine NA NA 99 91
Korea, North 51 99 107 85
Canada 40 75 83 80
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NA-not available
Coal is more polluting than other fuels, but this energy source
provides 52% of America's electricity and the worldwide use of coal is
expected to grow 40% in the next two decades. The Pew Center on Global
Climate Change thinks it is highly unlikely that the world's energy needs
can be met without coal. Research and business investment is up in making
coal use a cleaner process.
Energy price volatility and uncertainty are also forcing American
industry to think more about the diversification of energy sources. Wind
power is seeing more use in Europe. Denmark is using the North Sea
coastal wind to turn electrical generators. GE's wind energy operations
has an order to supply 660 wind turbines to power a 1,000-megawatt
generating station in Canada.
Fuel cells are also being used as nonpolluting electrical generators.
They may replace batteries in many electronic devices including laptop
computers and cell phones.