Role of Coal in Sustainable Energy Development

Abstract

Coal is the one fossil energy source that can play a substantial role as a transitional energy source as one moves from the petroleum and natural gas based economic system to the future economic system based on nondepletable or renewable energy systems. For coal to remain competitive with other sources of energy in the industrialized countries of the world, continuing technological improvements in all aspects of coal extraction have been necessary. Coal has many important uses, but most significantly in electricity generation, steel and cement manufacture, and industrial process heating. Despite the long-term importance of oil and gas use, coal will remain a major pillar of the world's energy supply. Developing countries use about 55% of the world's coal today; this share is expected to grow to 65% over the next 15 years. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the contribution of coal to global energy demand and its share in global energy sources by presenting its historical development. In addition, this paper describes and summarizes environmental impacts of coal consumption and present status of several clean coal technologies.

Policy influence on clean coal uptake in China, India, Australia, and USA

“…Efficiency ranges from 40% to 44%, with operations carried out at low temperatures than in conventional technology and thereby reducing NOx production significantly . SO 2 is also removed (up to 90%) by this technology because limestone is used to absorb it, and be removed as a solid compound together with ash . Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC): This involves gasifying coal with oxygen and steam to produce fuel gas which has high heating value . This fuel gas is then burned in a gas turbine to generate electricity and produce steam for steam cycle.…”

“…Balat's study indicates that, CCTs fall into those that aim to; Eliminate emissions of pollutants e.g. particulates, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. Improve combustion technologies to increase efficiencies and to reduce CO 2 and other emissions Reduce CO 2 through carbon capture and storage (CCS). …”

“…Consequently, following Balat's categorization of CCTs, there are a number of examples that are currently on the market and are being applied in various parts of the world. Examples are drawn from the literature and are listed as follows; Carbon capture & storage or sequestration (through precombustion capture, postcombustion capture and oxyfuel combustion). Coal co‐firing with untreated and pretreated biomass or wastes Underground coal gasification technology (UCG) Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) Pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) Ultra super critical combustion (USC) Flue gas desulfurization and denitrification using scrubbers (a postcombustion technology that can remove SO 2 ), low NOx burners, overfire air, reburn, noncatalytic reduction techniques, and catalytic reduction techniques (for removal of NOx)(FGD) . …”

“…Moreover, Li and Leung reports that Coal has been making 70% of China's total energy consumption since 2000 to 2010 and this dominant coal energy structure has not been changing for the past decade. In terms of percentage coal‐based electricity generation; the estimate is over 80% of all electricity generated . Thus, the electricity sector and its growth over the years (in response to economic growth) in China is largely covered by coal‐based generation, thereby making China the largest emitter of green house gases (GHGs) in the world (as coal utilization is directly related to emissions) .…”

“…Efficiency ranges from 40% to 44%, with operations carried out at low temperatures than in conventional technology and thereby reducing NOx production significantly [5]. SO 2 is also removed (up to 90%) by this technology because limestone is used to absorb it, and be removed as a solid compound together with ash [6].…”