A preliminary investigation into the potential for increasing coal use in Tasmania.

Tasmania is heavily dependent on petroleum products as an energy source yet there are strong economic pressures to reduce the consumption of these products. Despite this, there is a very evident lack of information concerning the extent to which liquid fuels may be replaced by alternative energy sources in the State. Consequently this study has been carried out in order to improve the data base in this area by investigating the potential for replacing petroleum products with the direct burning of coal. Analysis of the end uses of petroleum products in Tasmania shows that the direct burning of coal could, using widely proven and available technology, replace about 25% of the State's present consumption of liquid fuels. Industrial/commercial boilers are identified as the application offering the greatest potential for coal/oil substitution. The emission of particulates from the combustion stage of the fuel cycle is seen as posing the major environmental impact on the State if large-scale coal use is introduced. However compliance with current Tasmanian environmental protection regulations covering particulate emissions can be achieved with relatively little capital expenditure on pollution control equipment. The study shows that at the present time coal enjoys appreciable economic advantages over oil for large boiler installations, but with decreasing boiler size economic constraints to coal use become increasingly apparent. Subsequently courses of action that expand the area of economic advantage for coal are suggested.