A global platform for accelerating coal efficiency (PACE)

The World Coal Association released this concept paper in December 2014 on establishing a Platform for Accelerating Coal Efficiency (PACE). The vision of PACE would be that for countries choosing to use coal, the most efficient power plant technology possible is deployed. The overriding objective would be to raise the global average efficiency of coal-fired power plants and so minimise CO2 emissions which will otherwise be emitted while maintaining legitimate economic development and poverty alleviation efforts. Key points - In the lead-up to COP21 in Paris there is no evidence to suggest that mitigation action arising from any climate treaty will come close to achieving emissions reductions necessary to limit atmospheric concentration of CO2 to 450ppm. - As developing and developed economies grow and urbanisation increases, demand is growing for affordable, reliable and secure forms of energy in order to combat energy poverty and ensure competitive economies. - This has meant that coal remains the world\u27s fastest growing fossil fuel. Its current contribution to global primary energy consumption (30.1%) is its highest since 1970. In Southeast Asia alone demand is expected to grow by 4.8% a year through to 2035 as the region turns to coal to fuel its growing energy needs. - There appears to be no concerted international government action to integrate the global priorities of reducing energy poverty and supporting economic competitiveness through affordable energy with global ambitions on climate change. - Moving the current average global efficiency rate of coal-fired power plants from 33% to 40% by deploying more advanced off-the-shelf technology could cut 2 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions now, while allowing affordable energy for economic development and poverty reduction. - Deploying high efficiency, low emission (HELE) coal-fired power plants is a key first step along a pathway to near-zero emissions from coal with carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS). - There should be coordinated global action to support developing and emerging economies already choosing to use coal to do so with the lowest possible emissions profile. To that end the World Coal Association proposes a Platform for Accelerating Coal Efficiency (PACE)

Coal in the 21st Century: a climate of change and uncertainty

Coal presents a particular set of challenges when balancing energy policy goals. Despite presenting viable solutions to the problems of energy security and global energy poverty, coal struggles, given its greenhouse-gas drawbacks, in a world of increasingly harmful climate change. Notwithstanding the harm caused to the environment, coal remains an expanding low-price route to meeting local energy needs. It is forecasted to remain a major global resource for the foreseeable future. In the short term it is predicted to have a 26% share of the global energy mix. Recent years have witnessed severe deviations from previously stable trends in coal markets and policy dynamics. According to the predictions by the International Energy Agency (IEA), a variety of factors ranging from the planned phase-out of coal in countries such as Denmark, France and the UK, to changes in policy in China and import-dependency in India, and demand drop in the US have together resulted in the largest decline in coal production in 2015 since 1971 (IEA, Coal Information, 2016). This paper seeks to outline basic coal facts, recent market trends and directions globally and provides an overview of issues shaping the future of coal in the twenty-first century. This paper seeks to outline basic coal facts, recent market trends and directions globally and provide an overview of issues shaping the future of coal in the 21st century

Management and valorisation of wastes through use in producing alkali-activated cement materials

There is a growing global interest in maximising the re-use and recycling of waste, to minimise the environmental impacts associated with waste treatment and disposal. Use of high-volume wastes in the production of blended or novel cements (including alkali-activated cements) is well known as a key pathway by which these wastes can be re-used. This paper presents a critical overview of the urban, agricultural, mining and industrial wastes that have been identified as potential precursors for the production of alkali-activated cement materials, or that can be effectively stabilised/solidified via alkali activation, to assure their safe disposal. The central aim of this review is to elucidate the potential advantages and pitfalls associated with the application of alkali-activation technology to a wide variety of wastes that have been claimed to be suitable for the production of construction materials. A brief overview of the generation and characteristics of each waste is reported, accompanied by identification of opportunities for the use of alkali-activation technology for their valorisation and/or management

The case for coal: India’s energy trilemma

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that 304 million people in India are without access to electricity. Unsurprisingly, in a speech earlier this year, Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, stated that “universal and affordable energy access 24/7 … is the mission of this Government under Prime Minister Modi”. India is currently the world’s third largest energy consumer; this position will be consolidated over the coming years driven by economic development, urbanisation, improved electricity access and an expanding manufacturing base. Indeed, the IEA forecasts that by 2040 India’s energy consumption will be more than OECD Europe combined, and rapidly approaching that of the United States.  Like China before it, India’s economic growth will be fuelled by coal. Reflecting this, in 2012 45% of total primary energy demand and 72% of generated electricity demand was met by coal. India currently has approximately 205 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired electricity generation capacity, this will soon be augmented by 113 GW of new coal-fired capacity currently under construction.. Recognising India’s growing role in the international coal market, the World Coal Association commissioned external analysis to consider future demand, CO2 abatement costs and levelised electricity cost for India, including comparison with Europe. This new report provides a high-level summary of the outcomes of this analysis