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Coal Plant Construction Presents A Low-Cost Option
Alexandria VA (SPX) Apr 09, 2008 According to the new Power Capital Costs Index (PCCI) developed by IHS and Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), the costs associated with building a new advanced coal plant are the lowest when compared to other electricity generating facilities. The PCCI, which is a proprietary measure of project cost inflation similar in concept to the Consumer Price Index, rates nuclear cost index highest at 285. Wind is second highest at 195, while gas comes in third at 190. Coal cost index is the lowest at 172. In other words, coal is the least expensive option when it comes to power plant construction. That there are more than 120 coal-fueled power plants in the U.S. currently under or near construction, permitted, or in the early stages of development, further reinforces the PCCI and refutes any notion that coal is on its way out. Joe Lucas, executive director of Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC), said coal will remain the lowest cost option even with advancing technology. "As we continue to develop clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) the eventual capital cost to build new coal- based power plants will come down even further," Lucas said. Additionally, the Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC) reports that with increased technology development and a boost in federal funding, future clean coal technologies such as Pulverized Coal (PC) and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) systems will be highly competitive and will actually reduce the cost of producing electricity with near-zero emissions. "We can achieve these goals only if we continue to focus on the investment in advanced clean coal technologies - something that our industry strongly supports," Lucas said. "I also know that for those who are most pessimistic about coal's future, the idea of driving down the cost of technology sounds counter-intuitive, but that's exactly what we've seen happen over the last 35 years," he said. "New technologies made it possible to meet more stringent environmental standards and still kept energy costs low for the consumer." Related Links Americans for Balanced Energy Choices Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Shell seeks European help in developing carbon storage
Brussels (AFP) April 7, 2008Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell called on EU nations Monday to make urgent moves towards developing carbon capture and storage systems, a key part of the bloc's ambitious plans to tackle climate change. |
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