Coal Gasification
The region offers:
- Large coal reserves located in the Southern North Sea area as well as onshore
- An existing complementary infrastructure easily adaptable for coal gasification
- An experienced energy workforce with transferable skills
- Existing power plants which can be converted to gasification centres
The East of England has an existing wealth of resource which can be adapted and accessed for the coal gasification industry. A site off the Norfolk coast has been earmarked for further investigation.
Existing power stations and pipelines can be converted to deal with the production and transportation of fuels to specialist companies whose skills and knowledge of the energy and/or offshore industry will comfortably transfer to the new venture.
Coal gasification is the process of producing carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam.
The resulting gas mixture is called synthesis gas or syngas and can be used for industrial heating, power generation or as a fuel itself. This process can be carried out at power plants or in-situ in coal reservoirs underground.
Gasification produces ‘clean fuel’ by using high temperature combustion to refine out corrosive ash elements such as chloride and potassium. Underground coal gasification (UCG) almost eliminates nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions entering the atmosphere. They remain beneath the surface.
The potential for UCG in the UK means not only reducing environmental emissions but also ensuring security and diversity of energy supply.
