kohlebetriebene

Kohlebetriebene is a German adjectival form describing something that is powered by coal. It is used to characterize machines, plants, or systems that derive energy from coal, typically through burning coal to drive a steam engine or turbine. Examples include kohlebetriebene Lokomotiven (historical) and Kohlekraftwerke, where coal serves as the primary fuel source.

Historically, coal was the dominant energy source during the Industrial Revolution. Steam engines, locomotives, and many ships relied on coal combustion to provide power, enabling large-scale manufacturing, transportation, and urban development. The term kohlebetriebene is commonly found in historical descriptions of such equipment, contrasting it with oil- or gas-powered technology.

In modern contexts, the use of coal has declined in many sectors due to environmental concerns, cost, and policy shifts toward cleaner energy. Today, kohlebetriebene devices are mostly encountered in historical documentation, preserved equipment, or in regions where coal-fired generation remains part of the energy mix. In transportation and everyday industry, electric, diesel, or gas-powered alternatives have largely supplanted coal-based propulsion and drive systems.

Environmental considerations are central to discussions about coal use. Coal combustion emits pollutants and carbon dioxide, contributing to air quality issues and climate change. This has driven regulations, emission controls, and investments in efficiency improvements and carbon capture in some facilities, as well as a broader transition to renewable energy sources. From a linguistic perspective, kohlebetriebene is the attributive form of the adjective describing coal-powered status, and the ending changes with number and case (e.g., die kohlebetriebenen Lokomotiven).