While most posts to this site focus directly on coal combustion wastes and other industrial byproducts, occasionally a related issue comes up that is seemingly less directly related to industrial waste but, never-the-less, must be addressed. Anything to do with so-called “clean coal” technologies fits in this category; first, because clean coal doesn’t exist (see the numerous communities and web sites devoted to exposing the dirty truth behind mountaintop removal and other forms of coal mining, as well as environmental justice groups fighting dirty coal burning power plants, or communities concerned about coal combustion waste placement in their backyards), and second, because even if coal magically showed up without a dirty mining, processing, or transporting legacy at a new “clean” coal burning power plant, that power plant would still produce CO2 (a greenhouse gas) and what the department of energy calls “coal utilization byproducts”. Yep — so-called clean coal plants still pollute and still produce coal combustion waste.

Another blog shed light recently on a blatant administration attempt to squelch the bad news on the infeasibility of so-called carbon capture technologies that are so readily touted by government and industry.

A July 6 blog post by Gas Turbine World magazine described a DOE/NETL (National Energy Technology Laboratory) report that was completed in February this year but has been held up internally “pending management approval” for months. As the blog post describes it, the NETL report, “Chilled Ammonia-based Wet Scrubbing for Post-Combustion CO2 Capture”, suggests that for CO2 capture “the new technology offers no advantage over currently available amine-based absorption systems in terms of cost or performance”. <http://gasification-igcc.blogspot.com/>

This is a big deal since, as the blog post goes on to describe: “The PC (pulverised coal) sector of the industry is touting chilled ammonia as the saving technology development that will preserve the viability of coal-burning steam plants in a carbon-restrained world.” [emphasis added]

It’s also a big deal for current projects in the works to attempt to demonstrate the chilled ammonia technology for CO2 capture. Current projects are planned in a couple of states, including West Virginia. As WBOY news reported in March, AEP plans to test the Alstom technology at its Mountaineer Power Plant. WBOY.com’s March news report optimistically continued: “The chilled ammonia process may offer a solution for existing pulverized coal plants — plants that many have thought would become too expensive to operate if federal climate change legislation regulates CO2 emissions.” <http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=21919>.

A July 11 Greenwire report noted that according to NETL, the report was never intended for an external audience, and that it “would remain classified unless the agency was compelled to release it under a Freedom of Information Act request.” The Greenwire article went on to say that utility industry officials say they know of the report, but have not seen “a formal copy”. <http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=282>

Alleged “clean coal-burning” schemes are expensive and unrealistic, in addition to doing nothing to address the irreversible environmental damage that results from coal extraction in the first place. It’s time to stop mentioning coal — any type of coal, whether it’s “clean coal”, IGCC, coal-to-liquids, etc. — in any discussion of our energy future. Coal is dirty, it creates waste, and fossil fuels like coal (no matter how much you greenwash, change perceptions, or “offset” the consumption) contribute to climate destabilization.

Additional coverage of the DOE findings on chilled ammonia, including links to the DOE report:
http://gasification-igcc.blogspot.com/
http://www.environmentalnewsstand.com/epanewsstand_spclsubj.asp?s=energy
http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=282

“Chilled Ammonia-based Wet Scrubbing for Post-Combustion CO2 Capture” can be found at carbon control news. This is a subscription service, but you can register for a free trial and view the report. http://www.carboncontrolnews.com/ccndocs/jul07/ccn07182007_netl.pdf