By obtaining sponsor member status of the International Energy Agency Coal Research Centre, the United Kingdom, an international organisation supported by over 16 member countries and the European Community to promote innovation and sustainable development of coal as a clean source of energy, the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Tiruchi, has been able to gain a wealth of information on coal research.

Dr John Topper MD of IEA-CCC while addressing a workshop on ‘Supply & Demand of Coal and Power Plant Technology Evolution said that in the backdrop of rising global energy demands, the approach of carbon capture and storage, through a combination of existing and new technologies, will enable cutting down CO2 emission by half in 2050. This could be fulfilled with a large-scale transformation in the way energy is produced, delivered and consumed.

Demand for coal has been growing faster than any other energy source and is projected to account for more than one third of the incremental increase in global energy demand, he said, noting that global energy use grows by 36%. Among the non OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations, China alone accounts for 75% demand.

Dr John Topper said that to reduce CO2 emissions and increase efficiency of power generation, supercritical boilers and advanced ultra supercritical boilers were being developed in India, EU, Japan, USA, and China. In India, a date has been set for operation of an 800 MW demonstration plant. Referring to Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle technology, he stated that IGCC plants were already in operation all over the world. Five countries have overcome their initial technical problems and established the plant reliability and availability on par with other established power generation technologies.

(Sourced from ET)