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UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
How to reduce emissions from US coal? Burn it in South Korea
A study from Duke University in the US has suggested that exporting US coal to South Korea could lead to a 21% drop in greenhouse gas emissions, compared to burning the fuel at power plants in the US.
The figure comes from one particular scenario in the study where coal from the US replaces other coal in South Korea as a fuel source, and in the US gas is burnt in its place. Nevertheless, it challenges the assumption that an increased use of shale gas for power generation in the US means that the coal is transported elsewhere and burnt at a higher overall carbon cost due to transportation.
‘Despite the large amount of emissions produced by shipping the coal such a long distance, our analysis shows that the total emissions would drop because of the superior energy efficiency of South Korea’s newer coal-fired power plants,’ said Dalia Patiño-Echeverri, Assistant Professor of Energy Systems and Public Policy at Duke University.
‘This significant difference in results highlights the importance of analysing domestic energy policies in the context of the global systems they affect,’ said Patiño-Echeverri.
Stricter emissions requirements on coal-fired power plants, together with low natural gas prices, have contributed to a recent decline in the use of coal for electricity generation in the US. Faced with a shrinking domestic market many coal companies are taking advantage of a growing export market. US coal exports hit an all-time high in 2012, fuelled largely by demand in Asia. US coal exports to Asian countries have tripled since 2009, according to the study.
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Countries: USA - South Korea -
Subjects: Energy efficiency, Coal, Shale gas, Gas, Power stations, Coal fired power stations, Carbon emissions
