The term Clean Coal Technology (CCT) refers to pollution-free systems of generating electricity using coal. Clean Coal Technololgy could make possible a Zero Emissions “Hydrogen Economy” – based on clean synthetic hydrogen gas produced from gasified coal. This could be an important step towards a truly green energy policy.
Developing Clean Coal Technology would also mean new jobs for Wales and the U.K. and the chance to export energy technology and skills.
Even conventional coal-fired power stations can potentially achieve zero emissions, when fitted with chemical or physical solvent scrubbers, but coal gasification makes CO2 capture much more efficient and economical.
The best Clean Coal Technology is the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle process. I.G.C.C. plants gasify coal to produce a clean, synthetic hydrogen gas. A number of I.G.C.C. plants are already in operation around the world. In the U.K., I.G.C.C. plants are proposed at Hatfield and Onllwyn.
Linked closely to the issue of carbon capture is the question of carbon sequestration, long-term CO2 storage. CO2 from various sources is already pumped into deep saline aquifers at 70 sites around the world to force out remaining reserves in gas and oil fields. In the U.K., the North Sea gas fields would be ideal for long-term CO2 storage.
Apart from power station applications, hydrogen produced from coal could be used to produce electricity for fuel cells for electric vehicles. Research into new fuel cell technologies using palladium – the “metal sponge” that can hold 900 times its own volume in hydrogen – could virtually banish petrol and diesel engines, wiping out air pollution in a revolution based on coal.