PROF.
S.K.BOSE MEMORIAL LECTURE,2003
on
THE FUTURE OF COAL FOR ENERGY
by
Yoginder P. Chugh
Professor and Director
Combustion Byproducts Recycling Consortium –
Midwestern Region
Department of Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
18 February,2003
INDIAN SCHOOL OF MINES,DHANBAD
Sustainable
development at reasonable cost and with minimal long-term negative environmental
impacts must be our goal.
HIGHLIGHTS
*Coal will play an important role in the global energy picture over the next
20 years and beyond.
*Coal is the most affordable clean source of energy to drive global economy
and high standards of living.
*Coal will be the “fuel of choice” for base-load generation.
*Coal will be a savior for continued economic growth in developing Asia - particularly
in India and China.
*Coal processing will play a major role to provide affordable, clean coal energy
globally.
*All countries, in the longer term, should strive for a balanced energy mix
to achieve sustainable development without degradation to the environment.
OUTLINE
*World energy demand and supply projections and the role of coal in the energy
mix.
*Environmental issues affecting coal usage.
*Clean coal technologies for coal utilization.
*A case for a balanced energy mix for sustainable development.
*A Futuristic view
GLOBAL ENERGY DEMAND AND SUPPLY PROJECTIONS
*50% increase in global energy consumption from 2000 to 2020.
*Energy consumption is correlated with economic growth.
*Most of the growth in developing countries - Mainly in China and India.
WORLD ENERGY SUPPLY PROJECTIONS- FUEL TYPE, 1970–2020
*Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) should provide
over 90% of the energy needed.
*Global coal use expected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.5%.
*Natural gas should grow about 3.0% per year.
*Nuclear power as source of energy will decline.
*Renewable energy resources will grow some.
OUTLOOK FOR COAL
COAL AS A FUEL FOR POWER GENERATION
*Coal is cheap fuel. Fuel cost/kwh using coal is 30-40% cheaper than natural
gas or nuclear.
*CO2 emissions/ BTU from coal are 80% higher than natural gas and 20% higher
than for oil.
*Land, water, and air impacts and solid waste emissions from coal use as fuel
are of concern.
*Oil and natural gas resources have limited life.
*Coal will maintain the cost edge as fuel thru productivity gains and clean
coal technologies.
*Coal will be the “fuel of choice” for base load power generation.
AN OUTLOOK FOR COAL IN THE ENERGY MIX
*Over 55% of coal worldwide ( 5-b tons/yr) is used for
electrical power generation.
*Most projected coal growth will be for base load electrical power generation.
*Coal share of world energy production should drop from 22% in 1999 to about
19% in 2020.
* Coal outlook could change based on the environmental concerns - global warming,
acid rain, solid waste, and water management issues.
GLOBAL OUTLOOK FOR COAL-2020
*Global coal use expected to grow to about 6.4 billion tons.
*Increases mostly expected in the U.S.A, Japan, and developing Asia.
*China and India will represent 92% of the total coal use increase over the
next two decades.
* World coal trade should increase 180 m. tons
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING COAL USE (LAND)
*Disposal of mining and processing wastes ( 20- 40% of mined coal)
*Changes in surface topography due to surface mining.
*Surface subsidence- short-term and long-term, and associated agricultural impacts.
*Management of solid wastes and byproducts generated from combustion of coal
(CCBs), and dry and wet flue-gas desulfurization byproducts.
* With controls on Nox and mercury emissions, byproduct characteristics will
change for worse. Land impacts of management could become more serious.