Solid fuel is a term given to various types of solid material that provide energy. This energy is usually released by combustion (burning). Solid fuel is also used in referring to a type of rocket propellant (see Solid rocket).
Fuels which are most commonly associated with being 'solid fuel' include coal, peat and wood. The immediate use of all these fuels is for creating fire, for domestic heating (see Wood fuel). These fuels do also have a long history of industrial use. Coal was the fuel for the industrial revolution, from firing furnaces, to running steam locomotives on railways. Wood was also extensively used to run steam locomotives. Both peat and coal are still used in power generation today.
In many urban areas, ordinary coal, and other solid fuels such as wood, are banned. In such areas, smokeless coal is often the only solid fuel used. In Ireland, peat briquettes are used as smokeless fuel. They are also used to begin a coal fire.
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