The Indian Ministry of Coal has recently drafted a National Mission document, aiming to achieve 100 million tonnes (MT) of Coal Gasification by 2030. This follows a rising interest in hydrogen energy and its environmental benefits.
The Functioning of Coal Gasification
Coal gasification is a process that partially oxidises coal with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to produce fuel gas. This gas then serves as a substitute for natural gas, methane, and other energy-producing substances. There’s a specific technique called Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), which involves converting coal into gas from within the seam and extracting it through wells.
The Production and Use of Syngas
Coal gasification results in the production of syngas, a mixture mainly consisting of methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour (H2O). A highly versatile substance, syngas can be utilised in the production of numerous fertilisers, fuels, solvents, and synthetic materials.
Significance of Coal Gasification in the Economy
Manufacturing processes, especially in steel companies, often use coking coal, most of which is expensive and imported. To cut costs, plants can utilise syngas from coal gasification plants instead of coking coal. Syngas is primarily used for electricity generation and to produce chemical feedstocks. In addition, the hydrogen generated from coal gasification can be employed for various applications such as the manufacture of ammonia and powering a clean, hydrogen economy.
Increased Demand for Hydrogen
Currently, India’s hydrogen demand stands at 6.7 million tonnes per year. Yet, it is projected to increase to 11.7 million tonnes by 2030, with refineries and fertiliser plants being the primary consumers of hydrogen, produced from natural gas. However, hydrogen can also be generated from coal during the process of coal gasification.
Examining Concerns about Coal Gasification Plants
From an environmental perspective, coal gasification is concerning as it produces more carbon dioxide than a conventional coal-powered thermal power plant. As per estimates by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), one unit of electricity generated by burning gasified coal leads to 2.5 times more carbon dioxide than direct coal burning for electricity. Furthermore, the process of converting high-quality energy source like coal into a lower quality state such as gas requires high energy input, proving inefficient.
The Future of the Hydrogen Economy
A hydrogen economy is a concept envisioning commercial fuel relying essentially on hydrogen, promising a substantial fraction of a nation’s total energy delivery. Hydrogen offers major benefits as a zero-carbon fuel and a clean energy source, producible from renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. This environmentally friendly vision includes hydrogen production, storage, transport and use as fuel for vehicles, energy storage and long-distance energy transport.
In 1970, John Bockris introduced the term ‘Hydrogen Economy’, suggesting that it could replace the existing hydrocarbon-based economy, paving the way for a cleaner environment.
Moving Forward with New Technology and Infrastructure
To support current and future requirements, companies need to leverage and adopt new technologies, along with building a robust digital infrastructure. Optimising technology usage in the sector is crucial.
