(Washington, DC) The Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment today heard from energy industry experts on the state of advanced coal technologies and carbon capture and sequestration strategies.
The subcommittee examined the matter as part of its continued effort to bolster research and development of technologies aimed at reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases – in particular, carbon dioxide – in an effort to combat the affects of climate change.
“Because we will continue to rely on coal for a large percent of our energy consumption for the foreseeable future, there is a growing national and global interest in developing strategies to reduce significantly the billions of tons of carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere from this source,” said Subcommittee Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX).
The Department of Energy has a number of ongoing research and development programs designed to demonstrate advanced technologies that reduce coal power’s carbon emissions. Industry leaders have also begun to invest in advanced coal technologies.
“This hearing highlighted the benefits of developing carbon capture technologies to make the best possible use of our abundant coal resources,” said Congressman Jerry F. Costello (D-IL). “Coal is an economical fuel source and we must continue to ensure that it remains an integral part of our national energy policy.”
Approximately 50% of the electricity generated in the United States is from coal. According to DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) carbon dioxide emissions in the United States and its territories were 6,008.6 million metric tons (MMT) in 2005. In the United States, most CO2 is emitted as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. In particular, the electric power sector accounts for 40% of the CO2 emissions in the U.S, according to EIA.
“We must advance our technical ability to capture CO2 and prepare the heat-trapping gas for safe and effective storage in geologic formations,” added Lampson. “Without commercialization of carbon capture technologies and effective strategies to transport the CO2 from capture to long-term storage, we run the risk of profound damages to our climate system.”
Witnesses today addressed both policy solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of coal, as well as the current availability of emission-reducing technologies. Specifically, they addressed the prospects of two primary approaches to reducing emissions associated with coal-fired power production: increasing the efficiency of coal-fired plants (through replacement with new plants or retrofitting existing plants) and through installation of carbon capture technology and transporting CO2 to a permanent storage facility.
“Advanced coal technologies including coal gasification for electricity production, coal to synthetic natural gas, and coal to liquid fuels will depend on geological sequestration capacity to directly manage their CO2 emissions,” added Robert J. Finley, Director of the Energy and Earth Resources Center at the Illinois State Geological Survey. “The need for such management has been made all the more evident by the growing concern over climate change as embodied in the assessments released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other groups since February of this year.”
“I believe that coal will continue to remain a major energy source in the United States. I also believe the government, in partnership with private industry and universities can take great strides in reducing coal’s contribution to global warming,” concluded Lampson.
For more information on this hearing, follow this link»
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