The Future of Coal Fired Power Generation Technologies

Many of the world's largest economies, including the US and China, have based their prosperity on the availability of electricity from coal. However coal is also an extremely dirty fuel and its combustion is one of the main sources of carbon dioxide, responsible for global warming. The future of coal burning for power generation depends on adapting to new environmental restrictions.

Features and benefits

• Realize up to date competitive intelligence through a comprehensive review of coal fired power generation technologies concepts.
• Assess the emerging trends in coal fired power generation technologies.
• Identify which key trends will offer the greatest growth potential and learn which technology trends are likely to allow greater market impact.
• Compare how manufacturers are developing coal fired power generation technologies.
• Quantify costs of coal fired power generation technologies, with comparisons against other forms of power generation technology.

Highlights

Coal accounts for over 40% of total global electrical generation - more than 1,700TWh in 2010 - and the installed generating capacity in 2010 was around 1,500GW out of a world total of 4,500GW.

Total global proven reserves at the end of 2010 were 860,938 mtonnes. Total coal production in 2009 was an estimated 6,903 mtonnes of which 5,990 mtonnes were hard coal and 913 mtonnes were lignite. This compares with production in 2008 of 6,759 mtonnes. Total hard coal production in 1990 was 3,497 mtonnes.

Japan is the most important coal importer, consuming 165 mtonnes of imports in 2009. China is now the second largest importer with 137 mtonnes in 2009, followed by South Korea with 103 mtonnes, India with 67 mtonnes, Taiwan with 60 mtonnes, Germany with 38 mtonnes and the UK with 38 mtonnes.

Your key questions answered

• What are the drivers shaping and influencing coal fired power generation technology development in the electricity industry?
• What does coal fired power generation cost? What will it cost in the future?
• Which coal fired power generation technology types will be the winners and which the losers in terms power generated, cost and viability?
• Which coal fired power generation technology types are likely to find favor with manufacturers moving forward?
• Which emerging technologies are gaining in popularity and why?