Coal is widely known as a cheap and dirty fuel. Despite that reputation, coal-fired plants once dominated the electricity generation market. Nevertheless, with the emergence of cheap natural gas and the increasing importance attached to protecting the environment, that market landscape has changed.
The coal industry has slowed in pace and although coal is still cheap, it has failed to compete with clean-burning natural gas. However, the same two causes of coal’s decline may serve as catalysts for new technology in the future. Increased natural gas prices, increased focus on reduced emissions and the wealth of coal reserves have recently stimulated the research and development of coal gasification. Now, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) coal plants appear to be an alternative for the future. IGCC plants boast negligible pollution emissions, reduced carbon dioxide emissions (greenhouse gases), reduced solid wastes and increased efficiencies compared to conventional coal plants.
These benefits are not without barriers. IGCC plants are capital intensive at $1400/KW hence relatively uncompetitive when compared to natural gas plants. Clean coal gasification technology is still developing and generally unproven as it generates twice the amount of carbon dioxide as natural gas plants. Based on world coal reserves of more than 200 years, it is clear that IGCC will continue to be developed as the most probable replacement for conventional coal plants. Whether clean coal gasification is the final answer will depend on natural gas reserves, prices and IGCC technological advances.
Clean coal gasification is a promising technology that needs to be further developed until it can become economically viable for the future of the coal industry.
