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d e c e m b e r / j a n u a r y 2 0 1 6 www.resourceworld.com 5 e d i t o r ' s c o m m e n t s E l l s w o r t h D i c k s o n ellsworth dickson, Editor-in-Chief email: editor@resourceworld.com t: 604 484 3800 | 1 877 484 3800 T here was not a great deal of good news at the recent 2015 Conference held by the Coal Association of Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia. After all, prices of the various types of coal have been halved in the past three years which has resulted in some coal mines closing, new ones being delayed and disappointing bot- tom lines for producers. Yet, while coal companies do what is necessary to stay in business under the prevailing market conditions, there are also technological advancements that will help coal remain an important player in the global energy sector. The advance- ments centre around higher efficiencies of coal-fired power plants, harmful gasses reduction and carbon capture and storage. For many in the developed world, coal is a four-letter word with a dirty reputa- tion. However, at the same time, coal is the only affordable source of energy for the poorer developing nations – a neces- sary evil that generates about 40% of the world's electricity. But it's cleaning up its act. In his presentation at the confer- ence, Dr. Keith Burnard, Head of the Energy Supply Technology Unit, Energy Technology Policy Division of the Paris- based International Energy Agency, pointed out that air pollution emissions standards are tightening up in China, the European Union and the US, particularly for SO 2 . He noted that China's 2030 target for CO 2 emissions from carbon sources is a 60-65% reduction compared to 2005. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that OECD countries are still leading the advance in power efficiency – in the 35% to 40%+ range. Meanwhile, China has seen a steady improvement in efficiency from about 32% in 2003 to the current 38.80%. That country's policy is to build what are known as supercritical or ultra supercritical units with a 40%+ efficiency. Dr. Burnard said that the latest C-class coal gasification turbines (syngas) may achieve efficiencies of 50%. He also noted that the first commercial coal power plant with capture is now in operation. The Boundary Dam 3 plant (SaskPower) near Estevan, Saskatchewan, which opened in October 2014, captures 90% of CO 2 and 100% of SO 2 for one million tonnes annually. In an interview, Dr. Burnard said, "In terms of air pollution from coal-fired power generation, increasing efficiency and fitting emissions reduction equipment has decreased substantially emissions of sulphur dioxide, NO x and particulates over recent decades." He added that in the US, for example, generation from coal is at a similar level today as it was in 1990, 25 years ago, whereas emissions of air pollutants have declined by 75%. "Recognizing the cost to health, envi- ronment and infrastructure, China, in 2013, set emissions limits more stringent than the US, with strong penalties for non- compliance," said Burnard. "Raising the efficiency of the technology also reduces the CO 2 emissions per unit of electricity generated, so from that perspective, there is a causal link between reducing air pollu- tion and climate change mitigation." Burnard noted that to make deep cuts in CO 2 emissions, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology must be deployed. But, while CCS technology has been proven, as the Boundary Dam plant clearly dem- onstrates, the policy framework and business case for wider deployment is not yet present. Recognition among countries of the importance of CCS must be matched by policies that incentivize deployment. Coal Conference lays out the good and bad Continued on page 61