Emissions From Coal Fired Power Plants A Comprehensive Summary

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants can cut greenhouse gas emissions. One option is to replace some coal power with natural gas (NG) generation, a low carbon source of electricity, by increasing the power output from underutilized NG plants. This report provides an overview of the issues. Contents: (1) Intro.; (2) Background on Gas-Fired Generation and Capacity: Trends; Factors Supporting the Boom in Gas-Fired Plant Construction; Carbon Dioxide Emissions; (3) Coal Displacement Feasibility Issues; Estimates of Displaceable Coal-Fired Generation and Emissions; Transmission System Factors; Long-Distance Transmission Capacity; Transmission System Congestion; NG Supply and Price; NG Transport. and Storage.

Discusses a recent report on the Dept. of Energy's (DoE) decision to restructure the FutureGen program. The original FutureGen plant was to capture and store underground about 90% of its CO2 emissions. Concerned about escalating costs, DoE announced in Jan. 2008 that it had decided to restructure FutureGen. DoE requested supplemental info. from restructured FutureGen applicants, which will be reviewed before any selection decision. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, known as the stimulus law, provides DoE an additional $3.4 billion for "Fossil Energy R&D." Such a substantial amount of funding could significantly impact DoE's decisions about how to move forward with programs such as FutureGen.

Despite the many benefits of energy, most of which are reflected in energy market prices, the production, distribution, and use of energy causes negative effects. Many of these negative effects are not reflected in energy market prices. When market failures like this occur, there may be a case for government interventions in the form of regulations, taxes, fees, tradable permits, or other instruments that will motivate recognition of these external or hidden costs. The Hidden Costs of Energy defines and evaluates key external costs and benefits that are associated with the production, distribution, and use of energy, but are not reflected in market prices. The damage estimates presented are substantial and reflect damages from air pollution associated with electricity generation, motor vehicle transportation, and heat generation. The book also considers other effects not quantified in dollar amounts, such as damages from climate change, effects of some air pollutants such as mercury, and risks to national security. While not a comprehensive guide to policy, this analysis indicates that major initiatives to further reduce other emissions, improve energy efficiency, or shift to a cleaner electricity generating mix could substantially reduce the damages of external effects. A first step in minimizing the adverse consequences of new energy technologies is to better understand these external effects and damages. The Hidden Costs of Energy will therefore be a vital informational tool for government policy makers, scientists, and economists in even the earliest stages of research and development on energy technologies.

Coal will continue to provide a major portion of energy requirements in the United States for at least the next several decades. It is imperative that accurate information describing the amount, location, and quality of the coal resources and reserves be available to fulfill energy needs. It is also important that the United States extract its coal resources efficiently, safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner. A renewed focus on federal support for coal-related research, coordinated across agencies and with the active participation of the states and industrial sector, is a critical element for each of these requirements. Coal focuses on the research and development needs and priorities in the areas of coal resource and reserve assessments, coal mining and processing, transportation of coal and coal products, and coal utilization.

The electric power sector is what keeps modern economies going, and historically, fossil fuels provided the bulk of the energy need to generate electricity, with coal a dominant player in many parts of the world. Now with growing concerns about global climate change, this historical dependence on fossil-fuels, especially those rich in carbon, are being questioned. Examining the implications of the industry's future in a carbon-constrained world, a distinct reality, is the subject of this book. Containing contributions from renowned scholars and academics from around the world, this book explores the various energy production options available to power companies in a carbon-constrained world. The three part treatment starts with a clear and rigorous exposition of the short term options including Clean Coal and Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technology, Coal, and Emission trading. Renewable energy options such as Nuclear Energy, Wind power, Solar power, Hydro-electric, and Geothermal energy are clearly explained along with their trade-offs and uncertainties inherent in evaluating and choosing different energy options and provides a framework for assessing policy solutions. This is followed by self-contained chapters of case-studies from all over the world. Other topics discussed in the book are Creating markets for tradable permits in the emerging carbon era, Global Action on Climate Change, The Impossibility of Staunching World CO2 Emissions and Energy efficiency. Clearly explains short term and long term options Contributions from renowned scholars and academics from around the world Case-studies from all over the world