Abstract The Chinese energy system, a major CO 2 emitter, relies heavily on fossil fuels, especially coal. Coal will continue to play a major role in the new installed power generation capacity in the future, which will cause unavoidable environmental problems. Clean coal technologies (CCTs) are essential for emissions reduction in the power sector. In general, CCTs cover coal upgrading, efficiency improvements, advanced technologies and zero emissions technologies. Besides these, CCTs also include other emissions reduction technologies and comprehensive utilization technologies in China. This paper review the complete life cycle modeling of CCTs. The advanced technologies include super-critical (super-C), ultra super-critical (USC) and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). The results show that the higher efficiency technologies have lower potential impacts. Compared with the average level of power generation technology, CO 2 emissions reduction is 6.4% for super-C, 37.4% for USC and 61.5% for IGCC. Four coal power scenarios are developed based on the assumption of potential investment power for CCTs in 2020, which are super-C, USC, USC and old low efficiency generation substitution by USC, IGCC and carbon capture and storage (CCS). The CO 2 emissions intensity is 1.93 kg/kWh for super-C, 1.69 kg/kWh for USC, 1.59 kg/kWh for USC + replacement and 1.29 kg/kWh for IGCC + CCS. The CO 2 emissions intensity was 1.95 kg/kWh in 2010, which had decreased 5.5% compared with the level in 2005. The energy structure is continuously being improved and optimized. The potential carbon reduction will be limited in the power system in 2020 by current commercial CCTs with the generation efficiency increase. The most impressive technology is IGCC with CCS which enables greenhouse gas reduction of 37.6% compared with the level in 2005.
[1]
Tim Cockerill,et al.
Life cycle GHG assessment of fossil fuel power plants with carbon capture and storage
,
2008
.
[2]
Wenying Chen,et al.
Clean coal technology development in China
,
2010
.
[3]
Matthias Finkenrath,et al.
CCS Retrofit: Analysis of the Globally Installed Coal-Fired Power Plant Fleet
,
2012
.
[4]
T. Nakata,et al.
Analysis of the market penetration of clean coal technologies and its impacts in China's electricity sector
,
2009
.
[5]
Qing Xia,et al.
Preliminary exploration on low-carbon technology roadmap of Chinas power sector
,
2011
.
[6]
Zhufeng Yu,et al.
Policy study on development and utilization of clean coal technology in China
,
2008
.
[7]
Chen Qing-ru.
Consideration of clean coal strategy in China
,
2004
.
[8]
J T McMullan,et al.
Clean coal technologies
,
1997
.
[9]
Jianjun Tu.
Industrial Organization of the Chinese Coal Industry
,
2010
.
[10]
Xiao Bin,et al.
Life Cycle Inventory of Clean Coal-fired Power Generation in China
,
2005
.
[11]
M. Thring.
World Energy Outlook
,
1977
.
[12]
Matthias Czerny,et al.
The Renewable Energy Law of the People’s Republic of China
,
2014
.
[13]
Lawrence K. C. Tse,et al.
China's Energy Technologies to 2050
,
2012
.
[14]
Zhihua Wang,et al.
Up-to-date life cycle assessment and comparison study of clean coal power generation technologies in China
,
2013
.