Clean Coal Technologies Market Potential

April 9, 2009 - PRLog -- Almost 40% of the world’s electricity is fueled by coal. Coal is one of the world’s most popular fuels, yet it is also one of the dirtiest. When burned, coal releases numerous pollutants that are harmful to humans, animals and plants, and it is a major cause of global warming.

Clean coal technologies are being developed that enhance both the efficiency and the environmental acceptability of coal extraction, preparation and use. CCTs reduce emissions and waste and increase the amount of energy gained from each ton of coal. Many of these technologies are aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions from industrial or mining processes involving coal. The top international priority is reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal-based electricity generation.

There are two basic strategies for cleaning coal:
·         Increasing the efficiency of electricity generation plants. A one percent improvement in thermal efficiency can yield two to three percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
·         Capturing emissions and storing them underground (sequestration). This strategy holds the most potential for achieving large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from coal-based power generation. Sequestration is supported by coal gasification technologies, which can deliver a relatively pure stream of carbon dioxide lending itself to capture and storage.

Clean coal technologies are based on research and development conducted over the past 20 years, and there are more than 20 new, lower-cost, more efficient and environmentally compatible technologies for electric utilities, steel mills, cement plants and other industries.

Many of the clean coal technologies that are currently being touted are still in the developmental stage, however, and will take hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars and many more years before they are commercially available. Clean coal technologies are also extremely expensive in terms of day to day running costs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the capital costs of a typical IGCC plant (an experimental low-emission coal power station) to be $1,383/kW, $2,088/kW with carbon sequestration. This compares with $1,015/kW for a typical wind farm.

Looking at the growing popularity of these technologies and of this industry, Energy Business Report presents an in-depth analysis of the various technologies involved in cleaning coal and protecting the environment. This report on Clean Coal Technologies analyzes existing and promising technologies such as gasification, combustion, and others, and also looks at the various technological aspects, economical aspects, and programs involved in promoting these technologies. The report takes a complete look at these emerging green technologies and offers a comprehensive case study using the example of China.

About the Publisher: "Clean Coal Technologies Market Potential" is published by Energy Business Reports (www.EnergyBusinessReports.com), an energy industry think tank and leading source for energy industry information and research products.  View report details:  http://www.energybusinessreports.com/shop/item.asp?itemid...

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Energy Business Reports publishes cutting-edge business research and analysis reports in the global energy industry including power, oil and gas, and renewables markets.