Clean New Uses for Coal Crucial

(From China Daily 2010-09-18)

Editor's note: As the central government pushes for a lower carbon and more environmentally friendly economy, Shanxi, a coal-rich province, is also implementing a new growth program to reduce reliance on coal and transform its economy to become more diverse.

At a summit forum during the ongoing China Taiyuan International Energy Industry Expo, business leaders, government officials and experts from home and abroad outlined international practices and offered suggestions for Shanxi, as well as China, as it develops a more energy-efficient economy.

Dr Jonathan Sinton, China program manager at the International Energy Agency's Directorate of Global Energy Dialogue

The next decade is critical, and to avoid the lock-in of high-emitting, inefficient technologies during the next decade, governments will need to intervene on an unprecedented level with targeted technology policies to address the cost-competitiveness gap.

Ni Weidou, professor of Tsinghua University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Clean and efficient coal utilization is crucial for China to develop its low-carbon economy. Specifically, coal gasification and its derived technologies are strategically important in China to cope with the energy challenge.

Michael Gessner, an official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia

In North Rhine-Westphalia, energy efficiency has never paid off so quickly than at present. Investments in energy-efficient technologies are now generating an average return of 20 percent, far higher than five years ago.

Su Wenbin, PhD, president of GreenGen Co Ltd

A "green coal and power program" was initiated by Huaneng Group in 2004. Being implemented in three phases, the program has attracted broad participation from power and coal enterprises at home and abroad and support from the government.

Bernd Josef Leistenschneider, chief representative of Uhde GmbH in Beijing

With achieving sustainable development as our target, we seek cooperation with our partners in overall planning of coking parks, technologies, and maintenance and operational support.

Wang Yusuo, board chairman and founder of Xin'ao Group

China, as a country using coal as its leading energy source, has to solve the issue of efficiency and safety of coal utilization. The best way for solving the problem is the development of clean coal technology through great efforts.

Du Minghua, vice-director of the Institute of Coal-to-Oil Conversion at Shenhua Group

It is expected that in the next five years the technology for coal-based clean fuels and chemicals production will reach a higher level to further expand the coal industry chain.

Ren Runhou, board chairman of Lu'an Group

As a major coal producer in Shanxi, Lu'an Group has achieved the "low carbon utilization in a high-carbon industry" through developing a diversified energy production system consisting of coal mining, power generation, production of coal-based oil, natural gas and alcohol-ether fuels and solar energy.

Xi Wenhua, director of the Institute of Nature Energy of Gansu province and director of the International Solar Energy Center under UNIDO

The low-carbon development is a systemic program. It calls for holistic consideration of economy and society.

Wang Xiaoping, senior sales manager at the light engine department of GE Energy Group

Our airplane engine modification unit under GE Energy Group in Houston is a globally renowned institute in design, manufacturing and service in this field. Its gas turbine products, featuring lower emissions, have been broadly used in oil pipe pressure pumping, central heating and power generation.

Zuo Zhijun, researcher with the Institute of Coal Chemical Engineering at Taiyuan University of Science and Technology

Strategic importance should be attached to the coal-based chemical industry. This is the only way to overcome the challenge posed by the depletion of petroleum - now the raw material for most of today's chemicals - in the foreseeable future.

Wang Jianguo, director of the Coal Chemistry Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

China is deficient in petroleum and natural gas resources but relatively abundant in coal. It should increase coal conversion into liquid energy resources and chemical materials to supplement petroleum products. (China Daily 09/18/2010 page4)