DEVELOPMENTS SIGNAL BOOST FOR COAL GASIFICATION

摘要

Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is broadly viewed as the holy grail of coal-fired generation, a technology offering the possibility of using the fuel representing 95% of U.S. fossil reserves (easily a 250-year supply) while producing little or no pollutants. Thus, IGCC could provide the energy equivalent of having the cake and eating it too. Although nuclear power and renewable forms of energy are also widely viewed as potential emission-free hydrogen producers - nuclear on a far larger scale - IGCC offers a potentially huge option in such a future energy mix scenario. A number of recent industry developments could indicate that IGCC will become a bigger player in the electric power sector sooner rather than later.