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The Union Government’s recent announcement about coal gasification in the 2022-23 Budget has elicited concerns from non-profit organizations. Advancements in energy production typically pique public interest, yet this is not always greeted with complete approval. This article aims to offer an explanation of coal gasification, syngas, the hydrogen economy and the surrounding concerns.
Understanding Coal Gasification
Coal gasification is a technique that alters the state of coal to derive more versatile forms of energy. This procedure involves partially oxidizing coal using air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide, resulting in a gas known as fuel gas. This fuel gas can replace piped natural gas, methane, and others as a resource for obtaining energy.
An alternate method known as In-situ or Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) allows for the transformation of coal into gas still within the seam, which is then extracted via wells.
The Significance of Syngas
As a product of coal gasification, Syngas—consisting chiefly of methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapour (H2O)—has immense industrial value. It can contribute to various fields such as the manufacturing of fertilizers, fuels, solvents and synthetic materials.
Syngas also holds significance for steel companies, allowing them to substitute expensive imported coking coal with syngas derived from coal gasification plants. In addition, hydrogen derived from coal gasification can also be used in numerous ways, including the manufacture of ammonia and the development of a hydrogen economy.
Entering the Hydrogen Economy
The term ‘Hydrogen Economy’ was first coined by John Bockris in 1970 to describe a hypothetical economic system where hydrogen serves as the primary commercial fuel. As a zero-carbon fuel, hydrogen presents an excellent alternative source of clean energy, and could potentially be produced from renewable sources like solar and wind.
In this envisioned scenario, hydrogen could play a pivotal role in powering vehicles, providing energy storage, and facilitating long-distance energy transport. Transitioning towards a hydrogen economy could involve multiple stages including hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilization, ultimately leading to a cleaner environment.
Concerns with Coal Gasification
Despite the potential advantages of coal gasification, several concerns have been raised, particularly from an environmental standpoint. A key issue is that coal gasification produces more carbon dioxide than conventional coal-powered thermal power plants. According to estimates by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), one unit of electricity generated by burning gasified coal results in 2.5 times more carbon dioxide than direct coal combustion.
Efficiency also proves to be a hurdle with the syngas process as it diminishes the quality of energy from its original high-value state (coal) to a lower-value state (gas). This conversion process also consumes substantial amounts of energy, thereby lowering overall efficiency.
As we continue to explore and implement new techniques in energy production, it becomes crucial that we consider all their facets – both the benefits and the concerns they pose.