Alternatives to coal – why do we need them?

Why are trials such as have been conducted by the Andover club important? Quite simply, because the prospects of secure future supplies of traditional coal at an affordable cost are becoming ever-more uncertain.

Government plans to meet climate change targets saw new legislation passed in May which restricted the sale of traditional house coal and wet wood, while a forthcoming environmental bill makes it an offence to “acquire in England any controlled solid fuel for use in a building, fireplace, fixed boiler of industrial plant,” to which smoke control orders apply.

The Heritage Railway Association (HRA) has been leading efforts to secure exemptions allowing the burning of coal by heritage steam but even if these are granted obtaining coal will be much more difficult.

Supplies of coal remain essential for industries such as steel and cement production. But under the Government’s green agenda domestic coal production in the UK will end next year when the one remaining opencast mine producing steam coal,

Ffos-y-fran in south Wales, closes.

The other major remaining mining operation, Banks Group, closed two pits last year and has had applications for new pits rejected.

It is no surprise that this is happening – any planning application for new pits sees massive protests from the environmental lobby, which regards any UK mining as very bad for climate change. In fact, the need for coal by industry will result in the UK in future importing it from places such as Russia, using cargo ships burning heavy fuel oil and producing significantly increased emissions. But no politician will dare to pursue this point if they desire to still have their seat come the next election.

Importing coal suitable for steam locomotives will thus likely be more expensive. The entire annual needs of the heritage steam industry, not just our miniatures, would fill only one cargo ship, so the smaller quantities we need will likely cost accordingly.

A range of options are being pursued, including the use of Russian coal, but equally important are trials to find an alternative. As reported in our August issue the 15-inch gauge

“The entire annual needs of the heritage

steam industry, not just our miniatures, would fill only one cargo ship...”

Bure Valley Railway has staged a test of Ecoal50 with promising results, though a major potential drawback is currently the cost – the BVR worked out that at £339 per tonne plus delivery such coals were around £150 more than the traditional stuff.

Meanwhile EIM tech ed Harry Billmore has been trying out a new and different sort of eco coal – a product of rapeseed oil production with the oil extracted and what remains compressed into briquettes – on his locomotives at the 12¼-inch Fairbourne Railway. As the picture shows this is odd-looking stuff, being green in colour. Harry will be reporting on what proved to be very interesting experiments in his column next month.