Instructor: Dr. Qingyun Sun
Phone: 293-4832 ext. 4465
3 credit hours (two lectures and lab per week)
Office Hours: MTWF 10-12 or by appointment

This 3 credit hour course is suitable for both graduate and upper division undergraduate students interested in the coal and energy sector. This course provides and overview of the world's coal industry including structure, organization, markets, utilization, production, and interrelationships with the rest of the economy. Lectures introduce students to coal resource management, production, transportation, and utilization; environmental issues related to coal utilization; and sustainable development issues related to the coal sector. Focusing on the US and China, the course topics include and introduction to international coal markets, clean coal technology, coal conversion developments, environmental consequences, and carbon management programs. Through field trips to coal mines and utilization facilities and presentations by guest speakers, the course will give students a better understanding of the coal industry as well as relevant economic and environmental issues in coal regions. While there is and emphasis on West Virginia, the course provides and overview of the coal sector relevant to all of the primary coal producing areas. Case studies include basic skills of how to plan energy projects and undertake feasibility studies.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have an overall understanding of the coal sector, management of coal resources, coal business development, industrial project planning, environmental protection, and regional economic development. A case study will focus on development of a proposed coal-to-liquid project in southern West Virginia. The instructor will discuss growing needs for specialized technology and project development skills to meet the emerging demand from the coal conversion sector.

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Understand energy issues and important industries relevant to coal
• Identify coal resource and discuss natural resource utilization relevant to mining
• Identify and discuss important factors related to coal markets, production, transportation, and utilization
• Understand the primary relationships that tie the coal sector to broader energy, environmental, and economic factors
• Identify and discuss important issues in energy consumption, global environment, and economic development
• Identify and discuss the major coal producing and consuming areas of the world
• Identify the steps of and master the basic skills for developing a feasibility study for a proposed coal project
• Understand the potential importance of coal gasification and liquefaction to the West Virginia economy
• Learn to propose and plan an integrated coal project in a coal production areas (e.g., mining, or coal conversion) including environmental protection and sustainable economic development aspects