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)

How Responsive Are EU Coal-Burning Plants to Changes in Energy Prices?

The European Union (EU) Emissions Trading System (ETS) has implicitly made it more expensive to burn coal relative to natural gas because coal has a higher carbon content. Therefore, it is important to understand how much plants reduce their coal usage in response to higher coal prices to assess the effectiveness of the ETS in reducing carbon emissions. We analyze a novel panel of coal-burning large combustion plants from a subsample of eight EU countries and found that, holding constant the natural gas price, a 1% increase in the coal price results in a 0.36% decrease in coal consumption. At current ETS prices, this implies that the average large combustion plant in our sample EU countries is burning 7% less coal than it would be absent in the ETS. This suggests that the ETS has significantly reduced carbon emissions from coal-fired plants for the eight countries represented in our sample

Continuous coal processing method

A coal pump is provided in which solid coal is heated in the barrel of an extruder under pressure to a temperature at which the coal assumes plastic properties. The coal is continuously extruded, without static zones, using, for example, screw extrusion preferably without venting through a reduced diameter die to form a dispersed spray. As a result, the dispersed coal may be continuously injected into vessels or combustors at any pressure up to the maximum pressure developed in the extrusion device. The coal may be premixed with other materials such as desulfurization aids or reducible metal ores so that reactions occur, during or after conversion to its plastic state. Alternatively, the coal may be processed and caused to react after extrusion, through the die, with, for example, liquid oxidizers, whereby a coal reactor is provided

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIES OF MINING REGIONS

Developing innovative technologies of mining coal seams and increasing the competitiveness of coal produced and providing further diversification of the mine using the "post-mining" concept as the basis for sustainable development of the coal mine region

Destabilization of the hard coal microstructure by a weak electric field

This study aims to analyse physical and chemical changes in hard coal samples under the influence of low-intensity electric fields in comparison to the fragments of ejected coal, as well as the coal samples selected from the zones of high and low outburst hazard. We used physical methods including X-raying, electron paramagnetic resonance, thermo- gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, laser diffraction analysis of particle sizes, IR-spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Raman spectroscopy. It has been shown that destruction of coal organic matter (COM) can be caused not only by mechanical impacts or thermal influences but also weak electric fields. Scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time we established the identity of the COM destruction mechanism of mechanical-chemical activation and weak electric fields influencing on the previously destabilized coal microstructure. The destruction mechanism is based on thermal field regularities in both cases. The results obtained are of practical significance for the technologies of coal conversion to other products. The research results can be useful in the development of methods for reducing outburst hazard in coal mines

Financial Risks of Investments in Coal

Analyzes the regulatory, commodity, and construction risks of investing in coal mining and coal-fired power plants. Examines industry analysts' consensus on viable alternatives to coal, including natural gas, solar, wind, and energy efficiency

Toward a global coal mining moratorium? A comparative analysis of coal mining policies in the USA, China, India and Australia

To stop global warming at well below 2° C, the bulk of the world’s fossil fuel reserves will have to be left in the ground. Coal is the fossil fuel with the greatest proportion that cannot be used, and various advocacy groups are campaigning for a ban on the opening of new coal mines. Recently, both China and the USA implemented temporary moratoria on the approval of new coal mining leases. This article examines whether these coal mining bans reflect the emergence of a global norm to keep coal under the ground. To that end, we review recent coal mining policies in the four largest coal producers and explain them comparatively with a framework based on interests, ideas and institutions. We find that the norm of keeping coal in the ground remains essentially contested. Even in those countries that have introduced some form of a coal mining moratorium, the ban can easily be, or has already been, reversed. To the extent that the norm of keeping coal in the ground has momentum, it is primarily due to non-climate reasons: the Chinese moratorium was mostly an instance of industrial policy (aiming to protect Chinese coal companies and their workers from the overcapacity and low prices that are hitting the industry), while the USA’s lease restrictions were mainly motivated by concerns over fiscal justice. We do not find evidence of norm internalisation, which means that the emerging norm fails to gain much traction amid relevant national actors and other (large) coal producing states. If proponents of a moratorium succeed in framing the issue in non-climate terms, they should have a greater chance of building domestic political coalitions in favour of the norm

Fossil Fuels: Coal

This lesson provides an introduction to the use of coal as an energy source. Topics include the history of coal usage, applications of coal as an energy source, and major suppliers of coal (the United States). There is also discussion of how coal is created, located, and produced, and technologies for burning it more cleanly. The lesson includes a hands-on activity in which students measure the ash content of various types of coal. Educational levels: Undergraduate lower division, High school

A novel dry coal feeding concept for high-pressure gasifiers

A novel dry coal feeding concept was developed for injecting ground coal into high-pressure gasifiers. Significant power savings are projected because the coal is injected directly with a ram and there is no requirement for pumping large volumes of gas or fluid against pressure. A novel feature of the concept is that a new seal zone is formed between the ram and injection tube each cycle. The seal zone comprises a mixture of a small quantity of finely ground coal and a fluid. To demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, coal was injected into a 1000-psi chamber with an experimental device having a 7-1/2-inch-diameter ram and a 28-inch-long stroke

Coal pump development phase 3

Techniques for achieving continuous coal sprays were studied. Coazial injection with gas and pressure atomization were studied. Coal particles, upon cooling, were found to be porous and fragile. Reactivity tests on the extruded coal showed overall conversion to gases and liquids unchanged from that of the raw coal. The potentials for applications of the coal pump to eight coal conversion processes were examined