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All fossil fuels have something in common: They are spoils of plunder.

Our civilization is based on a very complex system of plunder. When the cache stops giving, the civilization ends. It's an old lesson that's been learned by many dead civilizations.

Plundering the coal reserves has a limited life. At the current rate of consumption, we have about 100 years worth of useable coal. The Energy Information Agency, who is very optimistic about fossil fuels, estimates we have closer to 200 years of useable coal reserves. When I get depressed, I go read an EIA report. There's nothing like fantasy to cheer you up! We have known the size of the proven coal reserves in this country for almost 100 years. I personally researched this matter for Peabody Coal, and Koppers a few years ago. If we use coal for transportation fuel, it may only last 30 to 40 years. Coal is not exactly a long term solution for power.

What about the 'clean' in clean coal. There are three types of clean coal processes.

1. Emission Controls with modified combustion. This is just a fancy way of saying, same plant, different fuel. Adding saw dust to coal, or other additives has been considered a clean process since they can reduce sulfur emissions. Some methods have merit, but generally it's putting lipstick on a pig.

2. Gasification. The carbon in coal is converted to water gas, (carbon monoxide), the solids are removed and the sulfur is precipitated as a liquid. This type of process has been around over 75 years. It takes a lot of energy to make water gas. Water gas does not have the heating value of carbon, much of the heating value in coal is lost in the process. So, pound for pound, you get less energy. Making water gas has a rich past. Unfortunately, the designers of the current IGCC plants haven't done a decent literature review. The major problems with gasification are costs and operational difficulties. The product, electricity, doesn't have enough value in many areas to justify gasification. Compressing and sequestering carbon dioxide magnifies the problems of costs. Gasification for power production lives in the land of diminishing returns. Don't get your hopes up.

3. Liquifaction. Coal is liquified in its own oils to produce a wide variety of chemicals, fertilizer, and fuel. There is currently only one plant in operations using liquifaction. It's doing very well. Long before cheap oil, coal was supplying fuel and chemicals to the public. Liquifaction is the best chance for clean coal. The carbon dioxide from the plant is compressed and pumped into the oil fields of Canada. In my opinion, it's a winner. With value added products, and a proximity to oil field storage capacity it is the only example that meets all the criteria for 'clean' coal technology.

Coal has a rich history of being used to make valuable products. Koppers still makes carbon anodes for the aluminum smelting industry from coal. It seems very short sighted to simply dig and burn coal. Coal has a wealth of complex hydrocarbons, nanoparticles, and the stuff researchers dream of. The owners of the coal deposits don't care about the uses for coal. I know, because I've asked. All they want is cash.

If we rely on short term profits to light the way, we are lost, and we have sold our birthright for a bowl of dirt.

Learn more about this author, John Carr.
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