Simpler and Cheaper Clean Coal Technology

Simpler and Cheaper Clean Coal TechnologyA Swedish utility is testing a process that could be far more practical than much touted gasification processes.


Gasification, in which coal is converted to a gaseous fuel, is the front-runner as next-generation technology for cleaner coal-fired power plants. Already, a number of utilities, including American Electric Power in the United States and RWE in Germany, are engineering large-scale gasification plants that would capture their carbon dioxide. But one major utility, Stockholm-based Vattenfall AB, is bucking the gasification trend. Last month, it finalized plans for a 40 million euro ($50 million) test of a simpler and potentially cheaper technology called oxyfuels.

- MIT Technology Review

It would be amazing if coal turned out to be the cheapest clean fuel. Solar, Wind, Hydro, GeoThermal, Wave Motion, and others probably don't have much to worry about where they are practical, but this would be great in cooler climates where they may be unavailable.

As far as I can tell, it seems that taking existing technologies and making them more efficient would be a good idea. GE has tackled Wind in a good way. They seem to want to dominate electricity production. That's fine, as far as it goes.

I would think we need to find a technology and financing story that can convince a utility to invest in new equipment when they haven't yet depreciated the existing stuff. I'm sure it's more than tax incentives. I don't know what's required, but who ever figures out the right mix would go a long way to saving the planet. (And probably the American way of life.)

If I were GE/Westinghouse I'd be putting together sales teams to evangelize state and local governments as well as utility companies. I hate the idea that we need to create separate generation companies (like we have on Maui). I just don't understand why it's not in a utility's interest to do it them selves?