Potential contribution of coal to the future global energy system

Abstract

Using a bottom-up type global energy model, this article explores in detail the potential role of coal over the 21st century and focuses on the prospects for coal gasification-based conversion technologies with CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) under the CO2 stabilization target of 550 ppm. The results show that even in the CO2-constrained world, coal can remain one of the important primary energy sources throughout the century on the condition that the resulting CO2 is properly captured and sequestered. Coal's competitiveness in such a world would increase with the introduction of CCS, but decrease with the leak rate for CO2 stored underground. For the optimal coal use, a common trend toward producing convenient and clean final energy carriers via gasification is observed. Under the CO2 constraint, coal is increasingly converted via gasification with CCS into electricity and hydrogen, thereby providing CO2-neutral energy carriers and facilitating CO2 capture, which helps China and India develop in a sustainable manner. These findings prove to be robust with respect to the costs of gasification-based conversion technologies and CCS. It is suggested that the establishment of reliable CCS technologies and low-cost gasification-based conversion technologies and their transfer to developing regions would raise the value of coal and provide energy security benefits under the CO2 constraint. However, it is also indicated that large-scale introduction of coal with CCS into leaky reservoirs would cause large CO2 emissions from leaks over the very long term.

Competitiveness, role, and impact of microalgal biodiesel in the global energy future

“…In the BaU case, the model is run without any CO 2 constraints, whereas the 550 ppmv and 400 ppmv cases are constrained to stabilize the atmospheric CO 2 concentration at 550 ppmv and 400 ppmv in the year 2100, respectively. [29], for the plant location factor values). b Anaerobic digestion of microalgal residues is used to supply process electricity.…”

“…Table 2 shows the techno-economic parameters for these processes. The produced microalgal biodiesel can be hydro-treated [29], for the plant location factor values). b The costs of blowdown process and substantial water supply network are included because seawater is assumed to be supplied for microalgal culture.…”

A strategy for introducing modern bioenergy into developing Asia to avoid dangerous climate change

“…The same cost reduction rate and same energy efficiency improvement rate were assumed for a group of gasification-based conversion technologies. The actual model inputs for plant capital costs vary by region by applying a region-specific plant location factor (see Takeshita and Yamaji [31], for the plant location factor values). The lower heating value (LHV) efficiency of direct heat generation from modern biomass is assumed to be 85% [29].…”

Mathematical Modeling of Ignition of Droplets of Coal-Water Slurry Containing Petrochemicals Using Ansys Fluent

“…Today in the world more than 40 % [1][2][3] of thermal power plants and small energy facilities use solid fossil fuels (coal of different grades) to produce electricity and heat. The operation of a coal thermal power industry associated with large-scale pollution of the environment, including emissions of greenhouse gases, ash, smog formation (almost 80 % of emissions of CO2 and sulfur and nitrogen oxides occur at energy facilities).…”