World Gasification Database now available from DOE; global capacity at 70,817 MWth
09 November 2010
A database just released by the US Department of Energy (DOE) documents the worldwide growth of gasification, the expected technology of choice for future coal-based plants that produce power, fuels, and/or chemicals with lower emissions.
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| Worldwide gasification capacity and planned growth by product. Source: NETL. Click to enlarge. |
The 2010 Worldwide Gasification Database, a collection of gasification plant data, describes the current world gasification industry and identifies near-term planned capacity additions. The database reveals that the worldwide gasification capacity has continued to grow for the past several decades and is now at 70,817 megawatts thermal (MWth) of syngas output at 144 operating plants with a total of 412 gasifiers.
Gasification is a technological process that uses heat, pressure, and steam to convert any carbon-based raw material into synthesis gas (syngas). Gasification is in use in more than 27 industrialized countries.
The new database is available in Microsoft Excel format. Compiled by the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, in collaboration with members of the Gasification Technologies Council, the database includes information about syngas capacity, feedstock, product, gasifier technology, plant owner/operator, and location for all gasification plants worldwide.
Quite an impressive list, I would say this is mature technology that is proven to work.
Posted by: SJC | 09 November 2010 at 04:59 PM
Once you have syngas, it is realy easy to do steam-reforming of this syngas to pure H2 and CO2 (since no air is added, there is no N2)
H2 and CO2 can easily be separated and consequently CO2 can be sequestered without the need for expensive scrubbers.
All this technology (except for sequestration) is already done on a massive scale for H2 production from natural gas.
A powerplant can run very cleanly and efficiently on H2. If (partly) biomass is used as fuel, this becomes carbon-negative electricity.
Posted by: Alain | 10 November 2010 at 05:26 AM
Yup, biomass gasification with solar thermal PV O2 and H2 can yield quite a lot of energy. Run combined cycle turbines, make synthetic transportation fuel, do whatever you want and need.
Posted by: SJC | 10 November 2010 at 01:55 PM
It is amazing to see how far we are willing to go to perpetuate an old fashion, liquid fuel, polluting technology. Resistance to change is towering but is futile. Ground transportation vehicles will be electrified. We may resist because our interested groups will object but China, Japan and India will do it and will gain a substantial economic edge.
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 November 2010 at 02:05 PM
100 million FFVs versus 1 million EVs by 2020 says that FFVs reduce oil imports MUCH more than EVs. Some will wish and hope their vision comes true, but when it does not where will they be to explain what we should do.
Posted by: SJC | 10 November 2010 at 08:31 PM
How about 100 million versus 100 million by 2025/30.
It is just a question of time before the appropriate e-storage units are developed and their price comes down. A 1000+ Wh/Kg is required for extended range BEVs. Technologies to do it have to be developed. It may take another 10, 15 or 20 years but it will come.
By 2025/2030, we will progressively retire our gas guzzlers. Museums will keep a few rare pieces around (with coal and oil furnaces) for centuries to show our grand grand children what foolish things were done during the crude oil era. The 1980 boats on wheels will be a curiosity.
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 November 2010 at 09:40 AM
The U.S. will not have 100 million EVs by 2020, not even the wildest estimates come close to that.
Posted by: SJC | 13 November 2010 at 01:01 AM