Producing electricity is the primary use of coal.  Most of the coal mined is transported to a power plant, crushed to very small particles and burned.  The heat created from this burning produces steam which is then used to turn a generator to produce electricity.

But coal also has many other uses.  In manufacturing processes, it is used as a source of heat.  Bricks and cement are made in kiln ovens heated by the combustion of a jet of powdered coal.  Factories also rely on coal as a power source, where it is used to heat steam and the steam is used to drive mechanical devices.  A few decades ago most coal was used for space heating.  Some coal is still used that way but other fuels and coal-produced electricity are now used instead.

Another important use of coal is for the production of Coke.  Coke is produced by heating coal under controlled conditions, in the absence of air.  This drives off some of the volatile materials and concentrates the carbon content.  Coke is used as a high carbon fuel for metal processing and other uses, where an especially hot-burning flame is needed.

Coal is also used in manufacturing.  If coal is heated the gases, tars and residues produced can be used in a number of manufacturing processes.  Plastics, roofing, linoleum, synthetic rubber, insecticides, paint products, medicines, solvents and synthetic fibers all include some coal-derived compounds.  Coal can also be converted into liquid and gaseous fuels; however, these uses of coal are mainly experimental and done on a small scale.