Synthetic fuels from coal: status and outlook of coal gasification and liquefaction

At the request of the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the US Library of Congress analyzed the outlook, environmental impacts, economic aspects, and policy options for obtaining synthetic fuels from coal by gasification and liquefaction. The study concludes that the major reason for increasing federal support of synfuels commercialization is the positive effect of synfuels on the nation's security and balance of trade. Favorable economic incentives could push commercial production levels to 250-310 million CF/day of high-Btu gas by 1990, effected by the completion of two 125 million CF/day plants. Despite the serious pollution potential inherent in coal conversion processes, proper controls make this technology less environmentally destructive than direct coal-burning plants.