IGCC: Technology to IGCC: Technology to Make Coal Green(er)Make Coal Green(er)

Brian Shrager, USEPA/OAQPSBrian Shrager, USEPA/OAQPSEnergy Strategies GroupEnergy Strategies GroupPresented at the State-EPA Innovation Presented at the State-EPA Innovation Symposium in Chapel Hill, NCSymposium in Chapel Hill, NCJanuary 7-10, 2008January 7-10, 2008

What color was the coal What color was the coal that Santa put in your that Santa put in your stocking a couple of weeks stocking a couple of weeks ago?ago?

Some general thoughts about Some general thoughts about energy, economics, and the energy, economics, and the environmentenvironment

In the U.S., coal is cheap and plentifulIn the U.S., coal is cheap and plentiful Future energy scenarios are likely to include a Future energy scenarios are likely to include a

diverse array of technologies including coal-, diverse array of technologies including coal-, natural gas-, nuclear-, and renewable-based natural gas-, nuclear-, and renewable-based power generationpower generation

The environmental performance of coal-based The environmental performance of coal-based electricity generation can be greatly improved electricity generation can be greatly improved using “new” technologyusing “new” technology

Coal-fired utilities emit criteria pollutants, toxics, Coal-fired utilities emit criteria pollutants, toxics, and COand CO22

How much do utilities How much do utilities emit?emit?

In 2000, power generation accounted for In 2000, power generation accounted for the following percentages of U.S. the following percentages of U.S. emissions:emissions: SOSO22--63%--63% NONOXX--22%--22% Hg--40%Hg--40% COCO22--40.5%*--40.5%*

More than 50% of the power generation More than 50% of the power generation is coal-based.*is coal-based.*

*Source: U.S. DOE, Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electric Power in the United States, 2000

How do we use coal How do we use coal today?today?

Most coal-fired utilities use subcritical Most coal-fired utilities use subcritical pulverized coal (PC) boilerspulverized coal (PC) boilers 35.9% efficient without carbon capture35.9% efficient without carbon capture Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) would Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) would

have a large impact on the thermal efficiency (~12% have a large impact on the thermal efficiency (~12% decrease or “energy penalty”)decrease or “energy penalty”)

Bottom line: using today’s status quo Bottom line: using today’s status quo technology, CCS=increased coal use=more technology, CCS=increased coal use=more “non-carbon” emissions + more CO“non-carbon” emissions + more CO22 to to sequestersequester

How could we use coal How could we use coal tomorrow?tomorrow?

Supercritical PC boilers*Supercritical PC boilers* Increased efficiency: 38.3%Increased efficiency: 38.3% Still takes a 12% energy penalty for CCSStill takes a 12% energy penalty for CCS Cost of electricity (COE) lower than subcritical PC (DOE 2007)Cost of electricity (COE) lower than subcritical PC (DOE 2007)

Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC)*Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC)* Increased efficiency: 41.8%Increased efficiency: 41.8% 6% to 9% energy penalty for CCS6% to 9% energy penalty for CCS Inherently lower emissions than PC unitsInherently lower emissions than PC units Much lower water use and solid waste than PC unitsMuch lower water use and solid waste than PC units Flexible feedstockFlexible feedstock Expensive compared to PC unitsExpensive compared to PC units

Other new technologies include oxy-fuel combustion Other new technologies include oxy-fuel combustion and ultra supercritical PC boilersand ultra supercritical PC boilers

*Source: Environmental Footprints and Costs of Coal-Based IGCC and PC Technologies, EPA 2006

What about emissions and What about emissions and costs for new plants w/CCS?*costs for new plants w/CCS?*

PollutantPollutant IGCC Bituminous-IGCC Bituminous-517 MWe517 MWe

Subcritical PC Subcritical PC Bituminous-550 MWeBituminous-550 MWe

Supercritical PC Supercritical PC Bituminous-550 MWeBituminous-550 MWe

NOxNOx 0.0490.049 0.0700.070 0.0700.070

SOSO22 0.01050.0105 negligiblenegligible negligiblenegligible

PMPM 0.00710.0071 0.0130.013 0.0130.013

COCO22, lb/MMBtu, lb/MMBtu 18.718.7 20.320.3 20.320.3

Cost of COCost of CO22 avoided, $/tonavoided, $/ton

4242 6868 6868

Hg, lb/TBtuHg, lb/TBtu 0.5710.571 1.141.14 1.141.14

COE, mills/kWhCOE, mills/kWh 110.4110.4 118.8118.8 114.8114.8

*Source: Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants, Vol. U.S. DOE, May 2007

What would IGCC do to What would IGCC do to my electric bill?my electric bill?

With CCS, the COE for IGCC is projected With CCS, the COE for IGCC is projected at 11% lower than subcritical PC at 11% lower than subcritical PC (although both costs are higher than (although both costs are higher than today’s prices)today’s prices)

Without CCS, the cost of electricity Without CCS, the cost of electricity (COE) for IGCC is projected at 25% (COE) for IGCC is projected at 25% higher than subcritical PChigher than subcritical PC

IGCC Flow Diagram

Source: DOE/NETLSource: DOE/NETL

Energy Efficiency

Useful Byproduct

sVery Low Emissions

IGCC with CCSIGCC with CCS

Shift & CO2 Capture and Compression

CO2

Source: DOE/NETL

Is anyone building an Is anyone building an IGCC plant?IGCC plant? Two IGCC demonstration plants currently

operating (“old technology”) More than 25 projects under consideration Several plants have final permits approved Several plants will likely be built in the next

5 years, but delays, technology changes, and cancellations are resulting from: Rising construction costs Uncertainty related to carbon regulation

A word about A word about FutureGen…FutureGen…

$1.8 billion (and counting) public-private $1.8 billion (and counting) public-private partnership to design, build, and operate a partnership to design, build, and operate a near-zero emissions coal-fueled power plant.near-zero emissions coal-fueled power plant. 275 MW IGCC with CCS275 MW IGCC with CCS Hydrogen turbineHydrogen turbine Planned to be operational by 2012Planned to be operational by 2012 Recently selected Mattoon, IL, as the site for the Recently selected Mattoon, IL, as the site for the

facilityfacility For more information: www.futuregenalliance.orgFor more information: www.futuregenalliance.org

Thoughts on CCSThoughts on CCS

Compression of COCompression of CO22 takes considerable energy takes considerable energy CCS regulatory framework neededCCS regulatory framework needed Geology is not suitable for sequestration in all areasGeology is not suitable for sequestration in all areas

Industry discussing a COIndustry discussing a CO22 pipeline, but it’s a long way off pipeline, but it’s a long way off

Sequestration already happening as part of Sequestration already happening as part of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), but capacity of EOR is enhanced oil recovery (EOR), but capacity of EOR is relatively smallrelatively small

Large-scale CCS is unlikely until 2020 or beyondLarge-scale CCS is unlikely until 2020 or beyond

So what do we do now?So what do we do now?

Encourage new coal facilities to be as Encourage new coal facilities to be as efficient as possible and “capture ready”efficient as possible and “capture ready” Capture ready is more than just “space” for Capture ready is more than just “space” for

equipment equipment

Continue to look at overall environmental Continue to look at overall environmental performance, not just carbonperformance, not just carbon

Continue research on CCS technologies Continue research on CCS technologies for existing plantsfor existing plants

ACT Working GroupACT Working Group

The Advanced Coal Technology (ACT) The Advanced Coal Technology (ACT) Workgroup includes Federal and State Workgroup includes Federal and State regulators, industry, academia, equipment regulators, industry, academia, equipment vendors, and environmental groups. The charge vendors, and environmental groups. The charge of the group is: of the group is: “To discuss and identify the “To discuss and identify the potential barriers and potential opportunities to potential barriers and potential opportunities to create incentives under the CAA to the development create incentives under the CAA to the development and deployment of advanced coal technologies.”and deployment of advanced coal technologies.”

……and finally, say this 5 and finally, say this 5 times fast…times fast…

IGCC with CCS/EOR has a COE less IGCC with CCS/EOR has a COE less than PC with CCS and emits less NOthan PC with CCS and emits less NOXX, , PM, COPM, CO22, and Hg!, and Hg!

Thanks!Thanks!

For more information contact:

Brian ShragerOffice of Air Quality Planning & StandardsResearch Triangle Park, NC(919) 541-7689shrager.brian@epa.gov

Photo: Courtesy Tampa Electric Company (TECO).