economic models must factor environment issues, page-2

good post socrates

the huge advantage exergen chtd delivers over rival techs is the strong links it has with the breakthrough CSIRO DICE project for the use of LV brown coal.

CHTD produced feed stock from LV brown coal has been proven to deliver clean as gas electricity production using DICE by the peak Cth research lab the CSIRO.

This gives any exergen/mnm LV JV the twin revenue potential of export of BCE to feed Tata Power's planned new super-critical power stations in India and also the capacity for DICE use in the LV to finally deliver the 'clean coal' holy grail.

According to this recent Q&A with CSIRO project boss Dr Wibberley DICE may be even cleaner and more efficient than gas as a source of electricity generation:

http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/insights/authors/martinoettinger/2012/08/01/mrc-–-dice-–-ccs-–-game-changer-electricity

'What are the advantages of MRC-DICE against conventional gas-fired power generation?

Conventional natural gas-fired power generation technology uses a gas turbine combined with a steam turbine, which is known as combined cycle (NGCC), or can use the gas turbine alone, which is known as open cycle. When compared against these technologies, MRC-DICE would be expected to:

have similar CO2/MWh emissions to an open cycle gas turbine;

have similar or better efficiency in combined cycle configuration with carbon capture;

have similar construction time;

have lower fuel cost (in an Australian and many other contexts);

have lower levelised cost of electricity (LCOE - $/MWh);

maintain high thermal efficiency:

at turndown (part load);

at high altitude; and

at high ambient temperature (up to 45oC).

have significantly lower equipment life penalty for rapid start;

have similar or better ramp rates to open cycle gas turbines, and much better than those for combine cycle turbines;

have similar or better rapid start;

have simpler maintenance; and

have better fit to carbon capture (post-combustion).'

Ex CSIRO coal research boss and key DICE research player Dr David Brockway is now a director of exergen.

By joining the exergen Board in July 2011 Brockway has voted on which bc upgrade tech is really set to open up the BC Pilbara with his feet.

The origin of the exergen/CSIRO DICE collaboration is worth revisiting in the context of what the Vic and Fed Govt have in mind for the future of the LV's brown coal, and the ALDP scheme:

http://www.exergen.com.au/news-1.html

'Exergen and CSIRO collaborate on low emission power generation technology

7th December 2009


Exergen and CSIRO have entered a 2 year $500,000 development agreement to advance the use of Exergen treated coal as a fuel source in Direct Injection Coal Engines for power generation.

Large scale diesel engines are commercially available (up to nearly 100 MW), development of these as Direct Injection Coal Engines (DICE) are expected to be flexible and adaptable (to enable a rapid start to supply peaking and shoulder electricity to the market) and can underpin base power supply at remote locations such as sub-bituminous coal mines.

The DICE is predicted to achieve thermal efficiencies of 47 percent using brown coal transformed by Exergen's Continuous HydroThermal De-watering (CHTD) process.

This is a much higher thermal efficiency than existing brown coal power stations and could lead to dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (in excess of 40%) compared to existing average Latrobe Valley generator performance.

Studies suggest Direct Injection Coal Engines fed by Exergen-s CHTD treated coal would have a similar carbon footprint as an open cycle gas turbine used for peak power generation.

Exergen CEO, Dr Jack Hamilton, said, “The combination of DICE and the high efficiency of Exergen CHTD processing of Victorian brown coals creates the perfect partnership of technologies to bring lower emission electricity to Victoria”.

“Just as importantly, this technology could make an important contribution in Asia where many low rank coals are mined - anything we can do to help upgrade the coal to a competitive fuel source to replace diesel at the mine would be of major assistance”.

Chief of CSIRO's Energy Technology Division Dr David Brockway, said “DICE, fuelled by coal, offers a pathway for significantly lowering emissions for electricity generation.

“Combined with the significant advantages of the low ash and high reactivity of Exergen CHTD coal sourced from Victorian brown coal, these technologies present an opportunity to achieve a step-change in carbon emissions,” said Dr Brockway.'

The exergen/CSIRO DICE project also received the Government's blessing by way of a $1.3 million BCIA grant in late 2011:

http://www.bcinnovation.com.au/CurrentProjects