Coal – the fossil fuel that has been used by civilisations around the world for centuries. Sure, countries around the world, including the UK, are slowly shifting towards renewable energy. But it would be unwise to deprive coal of its recognition as the foundation of the Industrial Revolution.
Factors that cemented coal as a staple commercial solid fuel
Back in the day, wood was the staple fuel for both residential and commercial use. But slowly, the industrial sector began to prefer coal as the go-to commercial solid fuel in Hull and around the world. Why? There are quite a few reasons, and the most compelling ones are mentioned below.
Coal is more energy-dense
As populations grew worldwide, forests were cleared to make way for farmland. Thus paving the way for ‘timber famine’. Timber famine is the situation in which demand for wood fuel for residential and commercial use exceeds global supply. The limited supply of wood was then sold at a premium, making it unviable for long-term commercial use.
Coal, on the other hand, compared to wood, is abundantly available, albeit a non-renewable source of energy. The prices have historically been low, and the best part is that, compared to wood, coal is more energy-dense. Another factor that helped coal become the staple commercial fuel was the development of chimney technology. With advanced chimneys, early adopters of coal could ensure the immediate environment wasn’t left choked with noxious fumes.
Coal lit the fire for the Industrial Revolution.
Coal was crowned as the undisputed king of solid fuels when James Watt invented the steam engine. The steam engine, on the other hand, as we all know, mechanised textile mills, ironwork mills, and breweries.
In the era of the Industrial Revolution, the easy availability of fuel became the sole reason businesses succeeded. The steam engine powered most machines in this era. Hence, it is natural for commercial entities to adopt coal as the preferred solid fuel in Beverly and the surrounding areas.
Coal is reliable and boasts a consistent supply.
As the 19th century arrived, it was evident that coal had become the staple commercial fuel. Additionally, with the advent of different coal grades, businesses that had the best coal at their disposal excelled in their sector. Coal was not only used to fire huge boilers at a Victorian-era factory but also to heat small local businesses. Due to its overall reliability and consistent supply, coal slowly but surely became the backbone of the economy.
Coal equals quality heating.
You read that right. When you are looking for high-quality heating at reasonable prices, you have to go for coal. Coal could be a fossil fuel. But when you source this fuel from a legacy supplier like East Riding Coal Supply, you won’t be polluting the environment. For energy-dense, smokeless, ready-to-light commercial coal, contact East Riding Coal Supply.