What is coal used for?

Answer 1

Coal is very commonly used today to produce electricity. In fact approximately 50% of electricity in the U.S. is generated by burning coal. Coal is burned to heat water and convert it to steam. That steam is pressurized and can be used to turn a turbine which produces electricity.

Coal is also used in iron and steel production, cement manufacturing, in the production of coal tar, home heating, and any number of industrial applications that require heat.

Answer 2

Burning, it isn't very environmentally friendly though, it can be used to generate power in coal power plants..