No impact on final energy demand.
Increase total fossil fuel consumption.
Likely to decreases the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix as the cost of coal is low.
Likely to decrease energy independence by promoting coal imports.
Increases global CO2 emissions.
Likely to increase other harmful emissions such as radiation due to trace compounds in the coal.
Likely to increase deposited waste of ash from the boiler.
Likely to reduce the cost of the energy transition.
May worsen balance of payments by requiring coal imports.
Coal-fired power plants burn coal to generate steam. The steam is then used to drive a steam turbine which in turn drives a generator that generates electricity.
Modern, state-of-the-art coal boilers burn pulverised coal and operate at very high temperatures and pressures to achieve overall efficiencies in the range of 40–45%. Modern coal boilers also have a range of emissions control technologies that limit the emissions of harmful pollutants, such as sulphur and nitrogen oxides and mercury.
• The primary constraint on deployment of coal power plants, at least in developed countries, is likely to come from policy. Currently the economics of coal plants are quite favourable but there is political will to phase out this technology as it is very intensive in terms of GHG emissions.
At the present moment there is no coal fired power plant for electricity production in Switzerland, that is the reason why there is no assumption for 2011.
Various technologies are expected to be available for coal power plants in 2035 and 2050: SC (Supercritical), USC (Ultra-supercritical), A-USC (Advanced Ultra-supercritical), IGCC (Integrated gasification combined cycle). The table below represents the assumed penetration for these technologies for 2050. It is considered that no Subcritical power plant would be planned for construction, as the technology is the least efficient and forecasted to be phased-out.
As CCGT plants, coal power plants can also integrate Carbon Capture and Sequestration systems (CCS).
Next tables contain the assumptions that have been introduced in the Coal power plant model of the calculator.
Coal Power Plants capacity share [%] [1] | ||
---|---|---|
Type | 2035 | 2050 |
SC | 20 | 0 |
USC | 60 | 60 |
A-USC | 20 | 35 |
IGCC | 0 | 5 |
Efficiency [%] [2] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
2035 | 2050 | |||
Technology | No CCS | CCS | No CCS | CCS |
SC | 46 | |||
USC | 50 | 43 | 52 | 45 |
A-USC | 52 | 45 | 54 | 49 |
IGCC | 54 | 48 | 54.5 | 48.5 |
Emissions [3] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2035 | 2050 | ||||
No CCS | CCS | No CCS | CCS | ||
CO2-eq. emissions [kgCO2-eq./kWhe] | SC | 0.828 | - | 0.828 | - |
USC | 0.751 | 0.193 | 0.725 | 0.193 | |
A-USC | 0.725 | 0.194 | 0.695 | 0.169 | |
IGCC | 0.697 | 0.175 | 0.686 | 0.161 | |
Deposited waste [UBP/kWhe] | SC | 6.44 | - | 6.44 | - |
USC | 4.45 | 9.27 | 3.93 | 8.06 | |
A-USC | 3.93 | 8.06 | 3.61 | 7.05 | |
IGCC | 5.50 | 8.50 | 5.27 | 7.95 |
Cost | |||
---|---|---|---|
2035-2050 | |||
Without CCS | With CCS | ||
Specific investment [CHF2010/kWe] | SC | 2'046 | 3'403 |
USC | 2'261 | 3'182 | |
A-USC | 2'400 | 3'840 | |
IGCC | 2'369 | 2'384 |
MIN Value: 0 GW.
MAX Value:
2035 | 10GW | There is no specification for the value ranges of this technology as it does not depend on any other factor apart from the willingness of the civil/political society to deploy it. |
---|---|---|
2050 |
[1]IEA Technology Roadmap: High-Efficiency, Low-Emissions Coal-Fired Power Generation
[3] The NEEDS Life Cycle Inventory Database
[4] International Energy Agency, 2012, World Energy Outlook 2012
[5] OFEN, Statistique globale suisse de l’énergie 2012