|
Commercialization of Coal-to-Liquids Technology
New report shows how coal liquefaction offers environmental benefits, cost savings, and energy
security.
Phoenix, AZ - February 8, 2007 - Energy Business Reports publishes a new
report on "Commercialization of Coal-to-Liquids Technology" examining how
the use of coal liquification technologies may help America wean itself of
foreign oil imports. CTL fuel is already in use elsewhere, like South
Africa, where it meets 30 percent of transportation fuel needs.
advertisement
Through liquefaction or coal-to-liquids technology (CTL), a process of
converting solid coal into liquid fuels and/or chemicals, coal can be made
into liquid fuel such as gasoline or diesel and used as a substitute for
petroleum products. Coal-based fuels can be used directly in today's
vehicles, with no need for modification.
Road trials of coal-based fuels have shown that significant local air
quality improvements can be achieved through the reduction of tailpipe
emissions. Some studies suggest particulate emissions can be up to 75% less
than with traditional diesel, and oxides of nitrogen can be reduced by up to
60%. The optimization of new engines for these fuels will offer even greater
reductions, particularly of nitrogen oxides. New engine design, such as
direct injection, will offer yet greater efficiencies.
Coal liquefaction is a well-developed technology, and given the large
coal reserves in the U.S., coal-based fuels could rapidly replace other
sources of transportation fuel to meet future needs.
While coal itself is a low efficiency fuel and a notorious polluter,
advanced gasification technologies can convert over 95 percent of coal fuel
into a combustible ga s, commonly called syngas. Syngas consists mainly of
carbon monoxide and hydrogen and can be used like natural gas to efficiently
generate electricity through an integrated gas turbine/steam turbine
combined cycle. Syngas is also a basic feedstock for manufacturing a range
of chemicals and synthetic fuels, such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol,
dimethyl ether, and Fischer-Tropsch gasoline and diesel, which can
substitute for oil.
The positive impacts of coal-based fuel include long-term environmental
advantages ranging from the reclamation of decades-old coal waste piles and
the mining of secondary coal sources, to possible ways to reduce hazardous
emissions in coal combustion.
Emissions from coal-fired power plants represent the largest source of
carbon dioxide emissions, a primary cause of global warming. However, the
process of coal liquefaction is a clean and efficient one, and there are no
harmful gases released into the atmosphere, thus helping the climate. While
the coal to liquids process is more CO2 intensive than conventional oil
refining, there are options for preventing or mitigating emissions. Due to
the broad global distribution of coal reserves, emissions may be avoided
through shorter fuel transport distances. For coal to liquids plants, carbon
capture and storage (CCS) can be a low cost method of addressing CO2
concerns and may result in greenhouse gas emissions being some 20% lower
over the full lifecycle than fuels derived from crude oil.
Coal liquefaction increases energy efficiency by diversifying the power
systems of a country and giving rise to more renewable sources for energy,
thus decreasing a country's dependency on large power plants and reliance on
a vulnerable infrastructure in case of natural disasters or terrorist acts.
Tightening oil markets and record high prices have brought U.S. oil
vulnerability back into focus, and hurricane Katrina demonstrated how
quickly oil supply disruptions could impact the country. Coal liquefaction
has emerged as t he perfect solution as it would reduce the dependence on
energy imports and also cuts down the reliance of countries on oil, thus
reducing vulnerabilities in national security. With approximately 20% of
global coal reserves, the U.S. has more than a 250-year supply at current
consumption levels and more coal then any other country in the world.
This report on coal-to-liquids technology looks in detail at the various
technologies and methodologies for liquefying coal, the economics of CTL
development, key players in the global market, the advantages and
disadvantages of liquid coal, and the market outlook for CTL as a fuel
source. The report also details 14 real-life projects and profiles major
industry players.
About the Publisher: "Commercialization of Coal-to-Liquids Technology" is
published by Energy Business Reports (www.EnergyBusinessReports.com), an
energy industry think tank and leading source for energy industry
information and research products. Other reports available from EBR include:
Business Process Outsourcing for Utilities, Bitumen Recovery and Technology,
The Market for Cellulose Ethanol, The Potential of Oil Sands as an Energy
Source, Weather Risk Management, Natural Gas Storage Effects on Energy
Trading, Fuel Cell Technology, The Outlook for Unconventional Gas, Securing
Energy Assets and Infrastructure, The Market for Solar Photovoltaics, and
Understanding the China Energy Market. This report can be purchased at
www.EnergyBusinessReports.com
Would you like to see your news and articles here? GO>>
# # #
|
