21st Century Ultimate Guide to Clean Coal: FutureGen Power Plant, Carbon Dioxide Control and Carbon Sequestration, Hydrogen Production Research (Two CD-ROMs)

Here is your authoritative guide to all aspects of clean coal, from the Federal Government! These discs represent the best coverage of clean coal technology development available in any single package! This unique two CD-ROM guide covers every aspect of clean coal. The federal government, through the Energy Department and the National Energy Technology Laboratory, is financing a research portfolio that is designed to remove environmental concerns over the future use of coal by developing revolutionary, near-zero emissions coal technology. In partnership with the private sector, technology developments are focused on maximizing efficiency and environmental performance while driving down the cost for these new technologies. RD&D efforts focus on near-term developments to enhance the capabilities of the existing fleet of coal-fired power plants while, in parallel, developing the technology base for future coal energy plants. These future technologies will ultimately be integrated in the FutureGen project, which will serve as a commercial-scale R&D test bed for showcasing advanced coal technologies. The central challenge is to provide coal-based technologies that essentially eliminate pollutant emissions, manage carbon emissions, and remain cost competitive. NETL's RD&D efforts in coal and power systems contribute to several vital national goals: Clean power generation. Coal fuels the majority of power generation capacity in the United States and in many other areas of the world. With technology advances, future coal power systems will be dramatically cleaner and more efficient than plants based on older technologies. Secure and reliable energy supplies. Coal is an abundant domestic energy resource. At current rates of consumption, coal could meet U.S. needs for more than 250 years. With new technologies, our Nation can use this valuable resource while also meeting environmental protection goals. Climate change. On a global and national level, coal use accounts for a significant proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. Making coal power systems more efficient contributes to the national goal of reducing carbon intensity. Toward a hydrogen economy. Our large domestic coal resources offer a viable mid-term resource for producing the large quantities of hydrogen. RD&D efforts in coal and power systems fall into three categories: Technologies that enable existing coal power plants to cost effectively meet environmental requirements. NETL and its research partners are developing environmental control technologies for retrofitting existing power plants, with application to new plants as well. Key areas of research include cost-effective control of mercury, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate emissions; beneficial uses for coal utilization byproducts; and innovations to minimize the impact of fossil-fuel use on the Nation's water resources. Technologies for coal power plants of the future with dramatically improved performance. NETL is developing a technology base for the highly efficient, near zero- emissions power plants of tomorrow. Technologies under development for future power plants include coal gasification, advanced turbines, combustion technologies, and distributed generation and fuel cells. The FutureGen prototype ultimately will combine advanced systems with carbon sequestration and coal fuels technology to co-produce electricity and hydrogen with nearzero emissions. To support coal and power systems development, NETL conducts a range of pre-competitive advanced research, focused on breakthroughs in materials, sensors and controls, biotechnology and bioprocessing, pollutant formation and removal, and advanced computational processes. Clean coal demonstration projects.