Futuregen And The Department Of Energy S Advanced Coal Programs

Coal-fired power plants generate about 1/2 of the nation's electricity and about 1/3 of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to climate change. In 2003, the DoE initiated FutureGen -- a commercial-scale, coal-fired power plant to incorporate integrated gasification combined cycle, an advanced generating technology, with carbon capture and storage. DoE's cost share was 74%, and industry partners agreed to fund the rest. Concerned about escalating costs, DoE restructured FutureGen. This report examines: (1) the original and restructured programs' goals; (2) similarities and differences between the new FutureGen and other DoE CCS programs; and (3) if the restructuring decision was based on sufficient info. Illus.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was given a mandate in the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to pursue strategies in coal technology that promote a more competitive economy, a cleaner environment, and increased energy security. Coal evaluates DOE's performance and recommends priorities in updating its coal program and responding to EPACT. This volume provides a picture of likely future coal use and associated technology requirements through the year 2040. Based on near-, mid-, and long-term scenarios, the committee presents a framework for DOE to use in identifying R&D strategies and in making detailed assessments of specific programs. Coal offers an overview of coal-related programs and recent budget trends and explores principal issues in future U.S. and foreign coal use. The volume evaluates DOE Fossil Energy R&D programs in such key areas as electric power generation and conversion of coal to clean fuels. Coal will be important to energy policymakers, executives in the power industry and related trade associations, environmental organizations, and researchers.

Clean Coal Engineering Technology, Second Edition provides significant information on the major power generation technologies that aim to utilize coal more efficiently, and with less environmental impact. With increased coal combustion comes heightened concerns about coal’s impacts on human health and climate change, so the book addresses the reduction of both carbon footprints and emissions of pollutants, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. Part 1 provides an essential grounding in the history of coal use alongside coal chemical and physical characteristics, worldwide distribution, and health and environmental impacts. Part 2 introduces the fundamentals of the major coal utilization technologies and examines the anatomy of a coal-fired power plant before going on to provide an overview of clean coal technologies for advanced power generation. Next, users will find a group of chapters on emissions and carbon management that have been extensively enlarged and updated for the second edition, thus reflecting the ever-increasing importance of this area. The final section of the book focuses on clean coal technology programs around the world and the future role of coal in the energy mix. This fully revised and selectively expanded new edition is a valuable resource for professionals, including environmental, chemical, and mechanical engineers who seek an authoritative and thorough one-volume overview of the latest advances in cleaner power production from coal. Provides a thorough, yet readable, one-volume guide to advanced power generation technologies for cleaner electricity production from coal Retains the essential background information on coal characteristics and the fundamentals of coal-fired power generation Presents extensively expanded and updated coverage on technologies for the reduction of pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and mercury Emphasizes carbon capture methods, storage, and emerging technologies for the reduction of carbon footprints, alongside a discussion of coal’s future in the energy mix

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.