J-Power, Chugoku Electric to Test Coal Gasification Tech

Hiroshima, June 2 (Jiji Press)–Electric Power Development Co. , or J-Power, and Chugoku Electric Power Co. said Monday they will jointly conduct large-scale testing of a technology that may dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power generation.

Oxygen-blown coal gasification technology is designed to convert coal into a synthesized inflammable gas consisting mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

The technology is seen helping to enhance the efficiency of power generation, as the gas procured can be used as a fuel for gas turbines and heat from the gasification process can be used to drive steam turbines, the two companies said.

The technology is also expected to make it easier to capture CO2 from coal, the two companies said. If introduced, the technology is seen bringing the prospect of zero CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants far closer to reality.

J-Power President Yoshihiko Nakagaki said it would be possible to export the technology in the relatively near future, as concerns over global warming are increasing.

J-Power and Chugoku Electric will set up a test plant with power output capacity of some 150,000 kilowatts on the premises of Chugoku Electric’s Osaki power station in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan.

The start of operations at the test plant is seen as fiscal 2016. Investment costs are believed to reach several tens of billions of yen.

Under the tests, the two companies will check the reliability, operability and economic efficiency of the plant, which will consist of a gasification furnace and steam and gas turbines. They will also test CO2-capture techniques.END

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