Coal Fired Power Plant Providing 1960 MWe
Coal is currently a low cost and relatively abundant supply for US power. Coal also produces more carbon emissions than natural gas. The Clean Coal Power Initiative was developed to support technologies, through funding, that demonstrate efficiency and environmental and economic benefits of coal as a power source, targeting advanced technologies including carbon capture and control.
The technology for carbon capture exists. The process is currently used during synthetic amonia production, hydrogen production and limestone calcification. However, cost prohibits its transfer to power plant processes. The energy requirements to sequester emissions are also prohibitive in that carbon emissions would be generated to produce the additional energy required for the process.
The DOE received grant applications for projects that demonstrate carbon capture and sequestaion on a large scale, specifically for power generation. $440 million is available depending on future year appropriations and there is no floor or ceiling per project. DOE expects to fund mulitple projects.
