Welcome to EnerBlog. We’re here to cover the future of energy and the technologies and policies that will take us there, all through the prism of those within the energy industry. This site has been in development for the past couple months, but now that we’re live you can expect more frequent updates.
Critics have labeled clean coal an ever-elusive goal that is perpetually over the next horizon, kind of like the hydrogen-powered car. “Clean coal” typically refers to two types of technologies, coal gasification and carbon capture and storage. The former turns coal into a synthetic gas which is then burned in an efficient combined cycle turbine (IGCC). The latter, often discussed in conjunction with gasification, involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, and sequestering the gas underground (CCS). While a number of IGCC projects are being pursued, there isn’t a single one in commercial operation – same is true for carbon sequestration, despite a number of small pilot projects. Cost is the main culprit.
But India and China may have identified an approach that brings clean coal closer to reality – underground coal gasification, which sources say can be done at a significant reduction in cost compared to IGCC:
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