1. IGCC: Technology to Make Coal Green(er)
Brian Shrager, USEPA/OAQPS
Energy Strategies Group
Presented at the State-EPA Innovation Symposium in Chapel Hill, NC
January 7-10, 2008

2. What color was the coal that Santa put in your stocking a couple of weeks ago?

3. Some general thoughts about energy, economics, and the environment
In the U.S., coal is cheap and plentiful
Future energy scenarios are likely to include a diverse array of technologies including coal-, natural gas-, nuclear-, and renewable-based power generation
The environmental performance of coal-based electricity generation can be greatly improved using “new” technology
Coal-fired utilities emit criteria pollutants, toxics, and CO2

4. How much do utilities emit?
In 2000, power generation accounted for the following percentages of U.S. emissions:
SO2--63%
NOX--22%
Hg--40%
CO %*
More than 50% of the power generation is coal-based.*
*Source: U.S. DOE, Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electric Power in the United States, 2000

5. How do we use coal today?
Most coal-fired utilities use subcritical pulverized coal (PC) boilers
35.9% efficient without carbon capture
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) would have a large impact on the thermal efficiency (~12% decrease or “energy penalty”)
Bottom line: using today’s status quo technology, CCS=increased coal use=more “non-carbon” emissions + more CO2 to sequester

6. How could we use coal tomorrow?
Supercritical PC boilers*
Increased efficiency: 38.3%
Still takes a 12% energy penalty for CCS
Cost of electricity (COE) lower than subcritical PC (DOE 2007)
Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC)*
Increased efficiency: 41.8%
6% to 9% energy penalty for CCS
Inherently lower emissions than PC units
Much lower water use and solid waste than PC units
Flexible feedstock
Expensive compared to PC units
Other new technologies include oxy-fuel combustion and ultra supercritical PC boilers
*Source: Environmental Footprints and Costs of Coal-Based IGCC and PC Technologies, EPA 2006

7. What about emissions and costs for new plants w/CCS?*
Pollutant
IGCC Bituminous-517 MWe
Subcritical PC Bituminous-550 MWe
Supercritical PC Bituminous-550 MWe
NOx
0.049
0.070
SO2
0.0105
negligible PM
0.0071
0.013
CO2, lb/MMBtu
18.7
20.3
Cost of CO2 avoided, $/ton 42 68
Hg, lb/TBtu
0.571
1.14
COE, mills/kWh
110.4
118.8
114.8
*Source: Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants, Vol. U.S. DOE, May 2007

8. What would IGCC do to my electric bill?
With CCS, the COE for IGCC is projected at 11% lower than subcritical PC (although both costs are higher than today’s prices)
Without CCS, the cost of electricity (COE) for IGCC is projected at 25% higher than subcritical PC

9. IGCC Flow Diagram Useful Byproducts Very Low Emissions
Energy Efficiency
Source: DOE/NETL
Source: DOE/NETL

10. Shift & CO2 Capture and Compression
IGCC with CCS
Shift & CO2 Capture and Compression
CO2
Source: DOE/NETL

11. Is anyone building an IGCC plant?
Two IGCC demonstration plants currently operating (“old technology”)
More than 25 projects under consideration
Several plants have final permits approved
Several plants will likely be built in the next 5 years, but delays, technology changes, and cancellations are resulting from:
Rising construction costs
Uncertainty related to carbon regulation

12. A word about FutureGen…
$1.8 billion (and counting) public-private partnership to design, build, and operate a near-zero emissions coal-fueled power plant.
275 MW IGCC with CCS
Hydrogen turbine
Planned to be operational by 2012
Recently selected Mattoon, IL, as the site for the facility
For more information:

13. Thoughts on CCS Compression of CO2 takes considerable energy
CCS regulatory framework needed
Geology is not suitable for sequestration in all areas
Industry discussing a CO2 pipeline, but it’s a long way off
Sequestration already happening as part of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), but capacity of EOR is relatively small
Large-scale CCS is unlikely until 2020 or beyond

14. So what do we do now?
Encourage new coal facilities to be as efficient as possible and “capture ready”
Capture ready is more than just “space” for equipment
Continue to look at overall environmental performance, not just carbon
Continue research on CCS technologies for existing plants

15. ACT Working Group
The Advanced Coal Technology (ACT) Workgroup includes Federal and State regulators, industry, academia, equipment vendors, and environmental groups. The charge of the group is: “To discuss and identify the potential barriers and potential opportunities to create incentives under the CAA to the development and deployment of advanced coal technologies.”

16. …and finally, say this 5 times fast…
IGCC with CCS/EOR has a COE less than PC with CCS and emits less NOX, PM, CO2, and Hg!
Thanks!

17. For more information contact: Brian Shrager
Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards
Research Triangle Park, NC
(919)
Photo: Courtesy Tampa Electric Company (TECO).