Context
Recently, the Centre has prepared a National Mission document to achieve 100 million tonne (MT) coal gasification by 2030.
What do you mean by Coal gasification?
- Coal gasification is the process of producing syngas: a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour (H2O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen.
- Rather than burning coal directly, gasification converts all of the carbon of the coal into electricity, hydrogen, and other forms of energy through partial oxidation.
Advantages of Coal gasification
- Coal gasification can also help address local pollution problems that have in recent months brought parts of the country to a virtual standstill.
- Gasification facilitates utilisation of the chemical properties of coal.
- It is considered a cleaner option compared to the burning of coal.
- Coal gas can be converted into chemical energy and is used for the production of iron from iron ore, as well as for the production of methanol and urea.
- Carbon Capture and Storage: another advantage of coal gasification is the fact that it lets you separate the good parts from the bad, and select the parts you want to keep.
Disadvantages of Coal gasification
- Some studies say that coal gasification actually produces more CO2 than a traditional coal plant.
- Its overall carbon intensity is worse: so it is not attractive at all from a climate change point of view.
- Coal gasification is one of the more water-intensive forms of energy production while the country is already suffering from water shortages.
Coal in India
- About: Coal is a readily combustible, black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, predominantly made of carbon.
- Major uses of coal-
- Power generation in Thermal Power Plants.
- Steel production with the help of coking coal.
- Synthetic fuel by gasification and coal liquefaction.
- In alumina refineries, paper manufacturing, and chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
- Types of coal found in India-
- Anthracite: It is the best quality of coal with highest calorific value and carries 80 to 95% carbon content. It ignites slowly with a blue flame and is found in small quantities in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Bituminous: It has a low level of moisture content with 60 to 80% of carbon content and has a high calorific value. Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have deposits of Bituminous.
- Lignite carries 40 to 55% carbon content and is often brown in colour with high moisture content thus, gives smoke when burnt. Rajasthan, Lakhimpur (Assam) and Tamil Nadu have deposits of Lignite.
- Peat is the first stage of transformation from wood to coal with low calorific value and less than 40% carbon content.
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