Clean Coal

New technology could make coal a major player on the list of clean energy sources.

The phrase ‘clean energy’ usually conjures up images of giant windmills and massive solar panel farms, churning out voltage without a whiff of CO2 or any other greenhouse gas.

But one of America’s oldest, dirtiest, and most plentiful fuels could join the clean energy club if research efforts can provide the needed technology.

“The United States has coal reserves for the next 300-400 years, and they’re going to be part of the energy mix,” said Jim Ritter, a chemical engineering professor at the University of South Carolina.

“But to do that without creating more greenhouse gases, we have to develop clean coal technology.” South Carolina is aptly positioned to make clean coal a reality with the establishment of its Center of Excellence in Clean Coal Research. The center is funded by $5 million from the state of South Carolina and $5 million from the Electric Cooperative of South Carolina and Santee
Cooper, the large state-owned electric utility that produces electricity primarily from coal-fired generating plants.

Most of the funds will be endowed to provide sustained support for the center, while some also can provide immediate direct support of carbon removal research (the greenhouse gas CO2 is a major emission from coal-burning power plants).

“As the state’s leading electricity provider, we understand our role in spearheading initiatives to help us balance the demand for increased electricity with our environmental responsibilities,” said
Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper president and chief executive officer. “Carbon removal technology will be essential as we move forward. We are confident that this enterprise will yield significant
improvements that will showcase South Carolina as a leader in the critical discussions to come.”

Producing electricity from coal-fired steam turbines is an important part of the energy equation in the United States—about 500 such plants generate about half of the country’s electricity. But
it hasn’t been without consequences: acid rain and greenhouse gases are two of the
byproducts of burning coal.

“CO2 is not a pollutant, but it’s a greenhouse gas that we have to capture,” Ritter said. “We’re looking at pressure swing adsorption models that would capture the CO2 as it’s going up the stack.

“The problem is that it requires very high heat and uses up to 30 percent of the plant’s energy output to capture the carbon. Then you have to do something with the CO2 , either compress it or liquefy it or pump it deep in the ocean or underground.”

Five years ago, the Department of Energy announced plans for FutureGen, a prototype for next generation coal-fired generating plants. The demonstration project would have produced electricity and hydrogen gas from coal placed in high-temperature gasification vessels.

In February, DOE pulled the plug on FutureGen—the price tag had nearly doubled to $1.8 billion—but the agency remains committed to funding development of carbon-capturing equipment at commercial coal power plants. Some energy policy analysts say that could actually speed up the technology process for making clean coal a reality.

“This country hasn’t been devoting enough research to coal, so it’s been challenging for us to find an endowed chair for our clean coal center—the field is very limited,” said Michael Amiridis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “We might have to go outside the United States to Canada, England, or Australia, all of which have stronger research efforts in coal.”

The important thing, Amiridis said, is that political will is strong to find a clean coal solution. And with funding and scientific perseverance, it can be developed, he said.