How it works: Drax coal-fired power plant

In this Drax coal-fired power station in England, 36,000 tons of pulverized coal are burned every day. Called the largest, cleanest, and most efficient coal-fired power station in the United Kingdom, the 4000 MW Drax plant supplies 7% of the country’s electricity needs. Each of its six turbines consists of five separate turbines: one high pressure, one intermediate-pressure, and three low-pressure. To produce steam, Drax has six boilers, each weighing 4000 tons. They convert energy from coal into steam at a rate of 4,468,243 pounds per hour. Pure boiler feedwater is turned to steam inside 480 km of steel tubing by the heat of the boiler.