Coal : Energy for the Future

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was given a mandate in the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to pursue strategies in coal technology that promote a more competitive economy, a cleaner environment, and increased energy security. Coal evaluates DOE's performance and recommends priorities in updating its coal program and responding to EPACT. This volume provides a picture of likely future coal use and associated technology requirements through the year 2040. Based on near-, mid-, and long-term scenarios, the committee presents a framework for DOE to use in identifying R&D strategies and in making detailed assessments of specific programs. Coal offers an overview of coal-related programs and recent budget trends and explores principal issues in future U.S. and foreign coal use. The volume evaluates DOE Fossil Energy R&D programs in such key areas as electric power generation and conversion of coal to clean fuels. Coal will be important to energy policymakers, executives in the power industry and related trade associations, environmental organizations, and researchers. Table of ContentsFRONT MATTERPREFACECONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY1 INTRODUCTI0N AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY2 OVERVIEW OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROGRAMS AND PLANNING3 TRENDS AND ISSUES FOR FUTURE COAL USE4 THE STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK5 COAL PREPARATION, COAL-LIQUID MIXTURES, AND COALBED METHANE RECOVERY6 CLEAN FUELS AND SPECIALTY PRODUCTS FROM COAL7 ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION8 TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION9 ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAMS10 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONSAPPENDIXESGLOSSARY AND CONVENTIONSINDEX