Looking at the recent clean coal conference in Perth and all its presentations, it seems obvious that there is a push from both China and India, and to some extent Australia to find global scale solutions to both burning coal cleaner, and using cheaper to mine lignite.
Some points/links of interest as far as progress goes -
The clean coal technology being developed by Australian companies and the CSIRO represents the opportunity to reposition Australia’s coal industry and "Brand Australia" as a leading destination for research, development and technology. Direct Injection Carbon Engines (supported by the industry Coal21 Fund and CSIRO), BCB Technology (supported by industry and CSIRO) are real and exciting opportunities for Brand Australia. Initiatives such as the Australia China Joint Coordination Group on Clean Coal Technology show the power of combined funding and collaboration on low emission coal technology.
It is clear that companies with the most appeal to Chinese investors and capital will be those that address China’s pollution challenge. Australia as a quarry, a farm or a hotel will not deliver long term prosperity. Forging an Australia / China cleantech collaboration will meet the needs in two markets and build the foundation for future prosperity.
Feb 12, 2015 - Kobe Steel, Japan on UBC based power generation pilot
From the Neyveli directors 12th Feb 2015
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Now therefore the parties hereby agree as follows -
1/ The parties hereto will cooperate and collaborate with one another to upgrade to commercial scale, the Kobelco developed lignite upgradation technology called UBC to produce UBC powder from the lignite available at the Neyveli lignite mines, the creation of storage facilities for the UBC powder produced, and optimizing the various processes to maximize efficiency gains by integration of a power plant with the UBC powder production.
The parties hereto also agree that prior to setting up a large scale UBC based integrated power plant, similar to that contemplated in the NEDO study, setting up a power plant in Neyveli should be explored (herein after refeered as "pilot project" in order to
a) establish to technology and other parameters, and to
b) work together for assessing the various technical and commercial options available.
""""
From the above it is obvious to see that the intention is to go ahead with commercial UBC and it will unfold in the normal pathway of using a pilot project to perfect the details before embarking on large scale commercial operations.
It will take some years to establish, just like any new tech, but has already been extensively tested and proven as shown in full scale power station tests
Benchscale testing was part of the process but that was around a decade ago.
Neyveli/Indian Gov/Kobelco/Jap Gov have been working towards this project for many years.
In the Neyveli 2014 annual report "directors report" it states -
" Your Company is in discussion with M/s. KOBELCO, Japan to upgrade the lignite for power generation.
M/s KOBELCO, Japan gave a presentation on the outcome of the study carried out to upgrade the lignite. The techno economic feasibility of the study was also presented to NLC for upgradation of lignite and power generation in the Ultra Super Critical Boiler (USCB)/ Sub-Critical Boiler. An MoU is to be signed for undertaking a pilot plant scale project."
Looking at this latest 2015 Neyveli directors report it appears that the MOU is now signed and in full swing of being carried out step by step. Kobe's UBC is set to become a commercial reality and another possible tech to come to Vic and utilize Mantle's brown coal holdings.
Globally plenty of resources and money are being thrown at research to find a cleaner way to burn coal / lignite. Nice to see Mantle's JVA partner Exergen, the CSIRO and DICE mentioned in parts of the above.
All IMO so DYOR
B Rubes
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