Can UCG Give Coal a New Lease on Life in 21~(st) Century?

摘要

Coal gasification has long been considered a pathway to making cleaner chemicals and energy from coal - a fossil fuel that many in 21st century believe is no longer compatible with sustainable and environmentally responsible development. Aged all but 200 years, conventional coal gasification technologies face problems with the safety, health hazards and environmental stigma of coal mining; handling of ash and other effluents; plant availability and prohibitively high cost. Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technology safely produces gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons without coal mining, leaves ash deep in the ground and at its best is much less expensive. Low base cost means that, unlike conventional gasification, UCG can afford CO_2 sequestration while remaining competitive. Why has not it seen so far a wide global industrial deployment? Is there a chance that broad application of UCG will make wide use of coal environmentally acceptable? What is required of UCG to achieve recognition of investors, regulators and general public?