煤炭是我国主要的一次能源资源，由于与区域经济发达程度呈逆向分布，大规模、远距离的煤炭资源应用将会长期存在。输煤与输电的应用方式是一个各方关注的问题，也是一个长期争论的问题。本文着重研究通过铁路运输输煤和通过特高压直流技术输电这两种方式，从煤炭清洁高效利用、综合经济效益、环境土地水资源占用、安全性等方面进行输煤输电综合比较模型分析，提出了定量结论：在2012年的主要指标下，1 800 km是输煤输电的指标性距离。即：1 800 km以下输电有优势，大于1 800 km输煤有优势。预测了未来输煤输电发展趋势，

Coal is China’s primary energy source in long time. Since the distribution of coal is reverse with the level of economic development, large-scale and long-distance utilization of coal, in the form of coal transportation or electric transmission, is a long-term task. The comparison between coal transportation and power transmission has drawn much attention and also is a long-term controversial problem. This paper focuses on coal transportation by rail and power transmission by ultra high voltage direct current (UHVDC) technology. The comprehensive analysis between coal transportation and power transmission is made in terms of clean and efficient utilization of coal, comprehensive economic benefits, resources of environment, land and water, and security. The quantitative conclusions are provided: the distance of 1800 km is the indicator of balance point. Namely, within 1800 km the power transmission usually has advantage, and coal transportation has advantage beyond 1800 km. This paper predits the developing trend of coal transportation and power transmission and suggests both coal transportation and power transmission should be developed at the same time.