This paper outlines the role of coal-fired power generation in Southeast Asia and presents a summary of recent developments and trends in ultra-supercritical technology. Southeast Asia, home to 620 million people, is continuing to experience robust population growth and rapid urbanisation. To meet the needs of its growing population and economy, the demand for energy services has increased rapidly, rising by more than 50 per cent between 2000 and 2013. Fossil fuels dominate the mix, accounting for approximately three-quarters of demand. Southeast Asia also needs huge investment in energy infrastructure, particularly in the power sector as over 20 per cent of the population still does not have access to electricity. Coal is favoured in the power sector due to its price advantage and the abundance of indigenous supply. Southeast Asia’s three largest energy consumers, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, have stated their intention to expand their use of coal. A number of commentators have concluded that coal is likely to remain an important source of energy in any conceivable future energy scenario and attention has turned to identifying the priority actions needed to reduce the CO2 emissions that coal produces. Recognising that CO2 capture and sequestration adds further complexity, continuing developments in pulverised coal combustion technology offer both increased efficiency and reduced emissions per MW. This paper highlights the benefits available from ultra-supercritical technology. Case studies are presented which describe the various aspects of steam cycle selection based on current market offerings and articulate the benefits offered by the adoption of this technology. The key risks and issues and other considerations when selecting the plant configuration are highlighted. Finally, established software is used to predict plant performance and support an economic analysis.
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