Four reports have been published since the last Newsletter: a review of the status of supercritical and ultrasupercritical coal-fired power plants by Herminé Nalbandian, an assessment of the economics of mercury capture from coal plant by Lesley Sloss, a summary report by Andrew Minchener of a joint study by the Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI) and IEA CCC, and a report by Deborah Adams on emission factors, which are central to any emission trading scheme.

Herminé is now updating our knowledge of NOx control on coal-fired plant and Lesley is investigating the implications of recent emissions regulations on existing coal-fired power plants. Andrew Minchener is addressing potential coal supply challenges worldwide and Deborah is looking at the possible application of efficiency upgrades and partial carbon capture to existing coal-fired plants.

Reports in draft include a review of recent developments in polygeneration, the production of electricity, heat, chemicals and hydrogen from coal, by Anne Carpenter, and a fresh approach to an earlier report on the competitiveness of coal by Paul Baruya. Also in draft is a report by a contractor on coal supply and clean coal technologies in Russia. Paul is now investigating the upgrading of coals with particular reference to Indonesian coals.

A second report by Robert Davidson on carbon capture technologies is in progress, looking at novel technologies such as membranes and solid sorbents. Also in progress is a major review of coal gasification by Rohan Fernando, and a companion report on progress in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) by Colin Henderson. Irene Smith is addressing the status of gas turbine technology for firing gas from coal gasification plants and hydrogen, and Ian Barnes is reviewing slagging and fouling in coal-fired plants. Gordon Couch is investigating underground coal gasification, a topic IEA CCC has not visited before. Stephen Mills is assessing how clean coal technology equipment suppliers are meeting the increasing demand for new coal-fired plants, and John Kessels is reviewing the EU carbon trading scheme, which has entered its second phase, along with other market-based mechanisms.

Following the usual excellent response to this year’s call to our members for new topics to be started in 2008, the most popular proposals were discussed at the Executive Committee Meeting in London on 17-18 April. Amongst the topics selected and which will be started shortly are:
Oxyfuel combustion based capture of carbon dioxide.
Impact of capital cost escalation on new coal fired power plants
Opportunities for converting coal fired power plants to hybrid generating plants based on coal and renewable sources.
An update on China’s electric power sector expansion
Co-gasification and update on indirect cofiring of coal and biomass;
World best practice for industrial and commercial coal fired plant;
Upgrading and conversion technologies for low rank coals (particularly Indonesian coals)