Could Legacy Coal Have a Clean Future?
Coal’s contribution to human industrialization cannot be understated; the fossil fuel acted as a relatively efficient source of power during the Industrial Revolution, making it possible to convert iron ore into iron cheaply. This affordable iron was key to the development of infrastructure, such as the Ironbridge Gorge Bridge, and provided raw materials for the machinery used in industrial-age factories. However, despite coal’s role in humanity’s development, the fuel is a major carbon emitter and has played a major role in global warming. Most countries worldwide have now pledged to transition from dirty fossil fuels such as coal to renewable…