Question

In the use of coal to produce energy, which of the following does not decrease the energy efficiency of the process:

a) Extracting the coal from the ground
b) Waste heat
c) Cogeneration
d) Energy required to build the power plant

Answer 1

The energy required to build the power plant does not decrease the energy efficiency of the coal production process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is d) Energy required to build the power plant. Extracting the coal from the ground increases the energy required for the process as it involves mining and processing.

Waste heat is a byproduct of the combustion process and decreases energy efficiency. Cogeneration, where waste heat is used for heating homes or industrial processes, can actually increase energy efficiency. Lastly, the energy required to build the power plant itself does not directly impact the energy efficiency of the process.