steam coal

Steam coal is a classification of coal specifically suited for use under steam boilers, primarily for generating electricity. Coal itself is classified in various ways, most commonly by its "rank," which indicates the degree of coalification it has undergone due to burial depth and temperature.123

The process of coalification transforms peat into lignite, then subbituminous coal, bituminous coal, and finally anthracite, the highest rank. As coal rank increases, so does its fixed carbon content, while moisture and volatile materials decrease. Bituminous coal, often referred to as steam coal in Britain, is abundant and widely used for steam generation in power plants due to its high heat value and ease of handling.3456