Development of Electricity Generated from Zero-Carbon Clean Coal: Feasibility and Competitiveness of “Clean Coal Power + CCUS”

Abstract

Considering the dual requirements of stability and low carbon, integrating clean coal power with carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and combining new energy power generation with energy storage have become the inevitable trends of China’s power industry. This study investigates the typical cases regarding clean coal power, CCUS, new energy power generation, and energy storage in China and abroad, analyzing the trend of technological development. A levelling cost model is used to measure the economical efficiency and changes of “clean coal power + CCUS” in three stages: current stage, technological breakthroughs, and commercial application. The competitiveness of “clean coal power + CCUS” is evaluated by comparing it with the “new energy + energy storage” mode from three dimensions: economical efficiency, stability, and security. The results indicate that technological breakthroughs and commercialization of CCUS will reduce the cost of “clean coal power + CCUS” by 30.3%−77.6%. When the cost of CCUS is lower than 550 CNY/t CO2, “clean coal power + CCUS” is more competitive than the “new energy + energy storage” mode. When the cost of CCUS is lower than 150 CNY/t CO2, the cost of “clean coal power + CCUS” will be lower than that of “new energy + energy storage”. Moreover, advantageous technical routes and application scenarios of “clean coal power + CCUS” are calculated and analyzed based on the competitiveness and synergy of “clean coal power + CCUS” and “new energy + energy storage”. The breakthrough directions and technical path of zero-carbon clean coal power are proposed from the aspects of improving the complementarity of clean coal power, enhancing the competitiveness of “clean coal power + CCUS”, and promoting the optimal combination of coal power and new energy. Furthermore, the following suggestions are proposed to promote the development of lowcarbon clean coal: (1) clarifying the preferential technology route, (2) strengthening the research and development of transformative and disruptive technologies, (3) improving the peak shaving capability of clean coal-fired power units, (4) promoting the coupling and coordinated development of coal-fired power and new energy, and (5) establishing a high-end composite talent support system.

Keywords

• carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals
• electricity generated from clean coal
• CCUS
• synergy of coal power and new energy
• flexible peaking