Briefing: Clean coal technology: a holistic approach

Abstract

What exactly does ‘clean coal’ mean? We know that mining coal creates dust and releases methane gas. We know that burning it liberates carbon dioxide and emits particulates including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. We also know that it creates wastes that are often stored in unsightly and potentially dangerous slag heaps and lagoons. When clean coal technology is discussed, it sometimes seems that creating modern or ‘ultra super critical’ coal-fired power stations is presented as the main or even the only answer. This paper makes the case for a more holistic approach.