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Underground Coal Gasification:

Underground Coal Gasification:. A “game-changer” for climate protection?. 3 rd China Energy and Environment Summit (CEES) Beijing, PRC August 20-21, 2010 Mike Fowler Climate Technology Innovation Coordinator Clean Air Task Force.

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Underground Coal Gasification:

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  1. Underground Coal Gasification: A “game-changer” for climate protection? 3rd China Energy and Environment Summit (CEES) Beijing, PRC August 20-21, 2010 Mike Fowler Climate Technology Innovation Coordinator Clean Air Task Force

  2. Clean Air Task Force is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing atmospheric pollution through research, advocacy, and private sector collaboration. 2

  3. Outline • About CATF • The need for carbon capture and storage (CCS) • The great barrier for CCS: cost • The potential benefits of underground coal gasification (UCG) • The cost of coal power with UCG with CCS could be less then cost of conventional coal without CCS • Other benefits include: reduced mining, reduced drinking water consumption, reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide, etc. • Importance of environmental management for UCG • Protection of groundwater from contamination 3

  4. About CCS at the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) • CATF is an energy and environment NGO with headquarters in the United States. Our work addresses: • Greenhouse gases and climate change • SO2, NOx, particulate matter, and toxic air pollution • Related environmental issues • We are a small specialty organization founded in 1996 • 20 technical staff, policy and business experts, and attorneys • CCS is a core focus for CATF. Our CCS work includes: • Expert workshops • Innovation policy design • Facilitation of large “pioneer” CCS projects • Costs of CCS will limit speed and extent of deployment • Underground coal gasification could “change the game” • Potentially significant cost reductions for coal power with CCS • Potential for low-cost substitute natural gas (methane) 4

  5. Background 1: Huge quantities of low-carbon electricity will be needed With electric vehicles? Will the world converge here? Source: CATF (2009) from DOE/EIA (2007) Slide 5

  6. Background 1: Huge quantities of low-carbon electricity will be needed World electricity demand , with electric vehicles? Source: CATF (2009) from DOE/EIA (2007) Slide 6

  7. Background 2: CCS will be essential to meet this demand Studies by MIT, Stanford, EPRI, PNNL, NCAR, and University of Maryland suggest substantial roles for fossil fules with CCS, renewables, and nuclear power MIT Model Stanford/EPRI Model PNNL Model Source: United States Climate Change Science Program, 2007 Slide 7

  8. Background 3: Costs of adding CCS to new power projects are significant • Relative cost of electricity (LCOE) estimate for fossil power generation (“Nth plant” US basis); CCS could add ~80% +80% • Source: DOE/NETL (2007) 8

  9. UCG could change the game for fossil power with CCS • UCG can produces inexpensive raw synthesis gas • $1 - $3/MMBtu (see GasTech, 2007; ENN, 2009) • UCG can enables high efficiency power generation when integrated with combined cycle gas turbine (“CCT”) • 45.4% HHV w/o CCS (AMMA, 2002) • Technology is commercially available to clean up syngas and removal CO2 at manageable cost • Result: Potentially game-changing CCS costs  Syngas  Oxidant Potable Aquifer Rock/Clay Rock (e.g., shale) Coal Rock (e.g., shale) Rock • Image: CATF (2009) 9

  10. UCG with CCS could compete with conventional coal without CCS • Cost of UCG integrated with 80% CO2 removal and syngas combustion in CCGT could be LESS THEN conventional coal without CCS • Cost of UCG to produce substitute natural gas with CCS also could be very attractive, especially in China Estimate by the NorthBridge Group and CATF based on proprietary data for a proposed UCG project in North America 10

  11. UCG could also significantly increase domestic energy supplies • In the US, UCG could increase coal supply by 300%-400%. The same could be true of China (though this requires study) • Source: DOE/NETL Presentation, September, 2008 11

  12. Commercial activity is accelerating

  13. Many more projects are planned around the world • US (Alaska) – CIRI/Laurus • Canada (Alberta) – Laurus • South Africa - Secunda (Sasol) • Vietnam - Red River Delta (Linc) • Pakistan - Thar Coal Field (2x) • Chile - Mulpun (Carbon Energy) • UK – 11 separate UCG licenses issued recently • India - Multiple sites • US PRB, US Midwest, New Zealand, … Carbon Energy UCG site near Dalby, Queensland, Australia, November, 2008. The reactor was active 200m below this spot. Photo by Mike Fowler. 13

  14. Possible advantage of UCG: Reduced water consumption Even with partial CCS, UCG and a CCGT could use less than half the raw water of a conventional coal power plant without CCS, and less than an IGCC without CCS. Source: LLNL (2010) 14 Slide 14

  15. Possible advantage of UCG: Reduced mercury emissions • Carbon beds have demonstrated 99.9% mercury removal on coal syngas • Carbon beds are much less expensive than activated carbon injection on conventional coal plants (~1/10th on cost of electricity basis) • Carbon beds produce less waste than activated carbon injection on conventional coal • UCG could take advantage of this technology to reduce mercury Carbon beds for mercury removal at Eastman coal gasification facility in TN Slide 15

  16. Possible advantage of UCG: Reduce air pollution emissions Technology exists for UCG to approach natural gas Source: CATF from various sources Slide 16

  17. Possible advantage of UCG: Use less surface land Slide 17 Source: Carbon Energy (2009)

  18. But… UCG is a complex coupled chemical and geophysical process Producer Injector Heat Gas Losses Coal Bed Tars & oils Water 1000 – 1650 F 400 – 1000 F >1650 F  Advances ~2 ft/day 18 • Source: Adapted from DOE/NETL Presentation, September, 2008, and AMMA, 2008

  19. And in China, as elsewhere, protection of groundwater is vital • Site selection is key • Coal at intermediate or greater depth • Preferably below potentially viable water resources • Isolated from surrounding strata (good roof and floor, horizontal isolation) • See DOE/LLNL guidelines (in preparation) • …so is site operation… • Safer linking methods (e.g., in-seam drilling) • Eliminate/minimize gas loss • Maintain gasification pressure below local hydrostatic pressure • Real-time monitoring of pressure, pH, trace compounds in surrounding strata • Real-time monitoring/verification of mass balance closure • Geophysical/geochemical monitoring, process simulation, and control • …and proper module closure is important • Limit postburn pyrolysis and steam/pressure buildup • Clean the cavern 19

  20. An environmental success in early US program – Rocky Mountain 1 • RM1 1987-1988 near Hanna, WY • Project included GRI, DOE, Amoco Production, WRI, and EPRI • Environmental protection focus • Thinner, deeper coal seam (Hanna No.1, 30 ft thick, >350 ft deep) • Stable overburden and underburden • Detailed pre-test geologic and hydrologic characterization • Hydrologic sampling and monitoring during and after the burn • Operational control • Post-burn cavity venting and flushing • Result: No water resource damage 20 • Sources: Boysen et al (1998), Davis (2008)

  21. Thank you!

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