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High Cost of Natural Gas Means a Resurgence of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Posted on: Saturday, 1 April 2006, 03:02 CST

By Anonymous

COAL

The world currently consumes more than 4.05 Gt (4.46 billion st) of coal for power generation, iron and steel production, cement manufacturing and liquid fuel.

Coal is one of the world's most important sources of energy. It provides fuel for almost 40 percent of the electricity generated worldwide, according to "Coal-Fired Generation Staging a Comeback," a new report from Research and Markets.

In many countries, that 40 percent figure is higher. Poland relies on coal for more than 94 percent of its electricity. In South Africa, that figure is 92 percent. Coal accounts for 77 percent of China's electricity generation. And in Australia, coal generates 76 percent of that country's electricity.

It has been estimated that there are more than 984 Gt (1.08 trillion st) of proven coal reserves worldwide. This means that there is enough coal to last more than 190 years. In addition, coal can be found on every continent in more than 70 countries. The largest reserves are in the United States, Russia, China and India.

Coal competes primarily with nuclear power and natural gas. However, neither of those sources has emerged as a serious threat to coal's dominance in the electric power sector, the report said. Coal's abundant supply, technologies that allow it to burn more cleanly, improvements in mining productivity and its cost efficiency, have all contributed to making coal the preferred choice for fuel.

Coal-fired power plants are poised to make a comeback, the report said. This is because the rising cost of natural gas has prompted the cancellation of several gas-fired combined cycle projects and the curtailment of operations at many existing plants. This renewed interest in coal is primarily driven by economics and the need for fuel diversity. Still, concerns remain about the environmental impact of these new coal plants.

Copyright Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. Mar 2006

Source: Mining Engineering

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