Editing Coal (section)

==Pollution mitigation and carbon capture==
[[File:Figure_1-_Sample_Layout_of_Emissions_Controls_at_a_Coal_Power_Plant_(7315637538)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Emissions controls at a [[coal fired power plant]]]]{{Main|Coal pollution mitigation|Carbon capture and storage}}
Systems and technologies exist to mitigate the [[Health and environmental impact of the coal industry|health and environmental impact of burning coal]] for energy.  

===Precombustion treatment===
{{Main|Refined coal}}

Refined coal is the product of a coal-upgrading technology that removes moisture and certain pollutants from lower-rank coals such as sub-bituminous and lignite (brown) coals. It is one form of several precombustion treatments and processes for coal that alter coal's characteristics before it is burned. [[Thermal efficiency]] improvements are achievable by improved pre-drying (especially relevant with high-moisture fuel such as lignite or biomass).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Niederraussem Coal Innovation Centre |url=http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/234504/data/2378/5/rwe-power-ag/innovations/coal-innovation-centre/Brochure-The-Niederaussem-Coal-Innovation-Centre.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722025133/http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/234504/data/2378/5/rwe-power-ag/innovations/coal-innovation-centre/Brochure-The-Niederaussem-Coal-Innovation-Centre.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2013 |access-date=21 July 2014 |publisher=RWE}}</ref> The goals of precombustion coal technologies are to increase efficiency and reduce emissions when the coal is burned. Precombustion technology can sometimes be used as a supplement to postcombustion technologies to control emissions from coal-fueled boilers.

=== Post combustion approaches ===
Post combustion approaches to mitigate pollution include [[flue-gas desulfurization]], [[selective catalytic reduction]], [[electrostatic precipitators]], and [[fly ash]] reduction.

=== Carbon capture and storage ===
[[Carbon capture and storage]] (CCS) can be used to capture carbon dioxide from the [[flue gas]] of coal power plants and  bury it securely in an underground reservoir. Between 1972 and 2017, plans were made to add CCS to enough coal and gas power plants to sequester 161 million tonnes of {{chem|CO|2|}} per year, but by 2021 98% of these plans had failed.<ref name=":23">{{Cite journal |last1=Kazlou |first1=Tsimafei |last2=Cherp |first2=Aleh |last3=Jewell |first3=Jessica |date=October 2024 |title=Feasible deployment of carbon capture and storage and the requirements of climate targets |journal=Nature Climate Change |language=en |volume=14 |issue=10 |pages=1047–1055, Extended Data Fig. 1 |doi=10.1038/s41558-024-02104-0 |pmid=39386083 |issn=1758-6798|pmc=11458486 |bibcode=2024NatCC..14.1047K }}</ref>  Cost, the absence of measures to address long-term liability for stored CO<sub>2</sub>, and limited social acceptability have all contributed to project cancellations.<ref name=":122">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 °C Goal in Reach – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=|page=133}} As of 2024, CCS is in operation at only four coal power plants and one gas power plant worldwide.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |title=Global Status Report 2024 |url=https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/resources/global-status-report/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Global CCS Institute |pages=57–58 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== "Clean coal" and "abated coal" ===
[[File:Acce-clean-coal-carolers.jpg|thumb|Coal industry groups promote the idea of "clean coal". In one video by the [[American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity]], coal lumps are portrayed as characters singing carols with names like "Frosty the Coalman."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grandia |first=Kevin |date=2008-12-09 |title=Give the gift of Asthma and a Warmer Planet this Christmas |url=https://www.desmog.com/2008/12/09/accce-clean-coal-carolers/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=DeSmog |language=en-US}}</ref>|alt=Cartoon of seven lumps of coal in Christmas-themed attire, standing in an open doorway with songbooks, singing. A banner says "The Clean Coal Carolers". |left]] 
Since the mid-1980s, the term "clean coal" has been widely used with various meanings.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Jessica |date=2018-11-09 |title=Clearing Up the Facts Behind Trump's 'Clean Coal' Catchphrase |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2018/11/clearing-up-the-facts-behind-trumps-clean-coal-catchphrase/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |work=FactCheck.org}}</ref> Initially, "clean coal technology" referred to scrubbers and catalytic converters that reduced the pollutants that cause acid rain. The scope then expanded to include reduction of other pollutants such as mercury.<ref name=":02" /> Recently, the term has come to encompass the use of CCS to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).<ref name=":02" /> 

In political discourse, the term has been erroneously used to imply that coal itself can be clean.<ref name=":02" /> For instance, it has been suggested that "clean coal" can be produced and exported.<ref name=":02" />  Even with scrubbers and some CCS, coal still has a fairly high environmental impact.<ref name=":02" />   

In discussions on greenhouse gas emissions, another common term is "abatement" of coal use. In the [[2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference]], an agreement was reached to phase down unabated coal use.<ref name=":6" /> Since the term ''abated'' was not defined, the agreement was criticized for being open to abuse.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last1=Khourdajie |first1=Alaa Al |last2=Bataille |first2=Chris |last3=Nilsson |first3=Lars J. |date=2023-12-13 |title=The COP28 climate agreement is a step backwards on fossil fuels |url=https://theconversation.com/the-cop28-climate-agreement-is-a-step-backwards-on-fossil-fuels-219753 |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref> Without a clear definition, is possible for fossil fuel use to be called "abated" if it uses CCS only in a minimal fashion, such as capturing only 30% of the emissions from a plant.<ref name=":6" />

The IPCC considers fossil fuels to be unabated if they are "produced and used without interventions that substantially reduce the amount of GHG emitted throughout the life-cycle; for example, capturing 90% or more from power plants."<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2022 |title=WGIII Summary for Policymakers Headline Statements |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/resources/spm-headline-statements/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Carbon Brief |date=2023-12-05 |title=Q&A: Why defining the 'phaseout' of 'unabated' fossil fuels is so important at COP28 |url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-why-defining-the-phaseout-of-unabated-fossil-fuels-is-so-important-at-cop28/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Carbon Brief |language=en}}</ref>