Commercialization Focus Group Interview: Liquid Solvent Refined Coal. Summary Report

摘要

In summary, the discussion produced the following conclusions about the feasibility of commercializing the coal liquids technologies: Coal liquids, at the current time, are not considered commercially feasible. In order to be commercially feasible coal liquids must become cost-competitive with oil and gas, a condition which may likely be reached at a much later date than D.O.E. forecast, if at all. This assessment was based on the opinion that D.O.E. forecast assumptions are unduly optimistic with respect to world oil price, future coal price, financing, contingency allowance and on-stream estimate. Aside from the serious questioning of S.R.C.'s commercial viability in either the short or long term, the issue was raised as to whether S.R.C. would represent a good approach to reducing oil imports, even if it were commercially feasible. The reasons for raising this issue included the fact that coal is already a boiler fuel and can be used to directly fuel boilers without suffering the penalties of an expensive process that results in a one-third net energy loss before combustion. Coal will play a much greater role in supplying U.S. energy needs in the future, whether S.R.C. is commercialized or not. It seems wise to question the wisdom of placing on the coal industry the added production demands that S.R.C. would require. On the other hand, the potential market for coal liquids as a boiler fuel is great. The basic purpose of a coal liquids program may be to free the oil and gas now burned as fuel for higher quality uses such as gasoline or petrochemical feedstock. A more attractive prospect than coal liquids may be to make methanol or gasoline from coal. (ERA citation 04:032039)