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Clean Coal TechnologyClean Coal TechnologyThe key to precautionary climate protection involves making the most efficient use possible of the available energy sources. In the conversion of coal into electricity efficiency enhancing potentials must therefore be exploited in Europe and worldwide. The European Commission has been financially supporting technical and economic research relating to the production and use of coal, and to occupational safety in the coal industry since the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty came into force in 1952. This continues today with a focus on clean coal technologies that will enable coal to maintain its important contribution to secure and competitive energy supplies for Europe. Clean coal technologies are continually developing. Today, efficiencies of 46% can be achieved by implementing Best Available Technology. With further research into techniques such as Ultra-supercritical combustion, efficiencies above 50% are envisaged in the near future. Work is underway to exploit the opportunities of capturing and storing CO2, which is an inevitable by-product of the thermal use of all fossil fuels. Through international cooperation, the EU clean coal industry has an excellent opportunity to exploit work supported by the European Community on a worldwide basis. Coupled with integrated gasification, coal could in this way provide a source of low-carbon hydrogen for fuelling transport without producing local emissions. There will be challenges in bringing these technologies to market, but with the right mix of research investment and market incentives, coal may stake a place in a sustainable and secure energy future. Clean Coal featured prominently in the 4th and 5th RTD Framework Programmes of the EU, and in the research funded under the ECSC. Between 1998 and 2002 eighteen research projects were supported by the Carnot Programme, the European programme for cleaner coal technologies. Developments seen in these projects, and in the global energy environment, have assured that clean coal and carbon capture and storage projects will be pursued under the 7th RTD Framework Programme The European Commission has been financially supporting technical and economic research relating to the production and use of coal, and to occupational safety in the coal industry since the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty came into force in 1952. Financial support has covered mining technology, coal preparation and coal conversion, as well as research and demonstration projects in coal combustion and gasification. Furthermore, since the expiry of the ECSC in 2002, research in the coal and steel area has been funded by the common Research Fund for Coal and Steel. The programme is managed by DG Research according to principles similar to those applied for the existing ECSC RTD taking the new guidelines into consideration.
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