Cleaner Fossil Energy

Summary of Cleaner Fossil Energy Task Force Action Plan

Coal, oil, and gas will remain critical fuels for all seven Partner economies. Against a background of increasing energy demand in the Asia Pacific region, the efficiency and environmental performance of stationary fossil fuel use needs to be improved.

A number of clean coal energy technologies are nearing commercial reality, such as integrated gasification combined-cycle power generation (IGCC); poly-generation of power, transportation fuels, and chemicals and oxy-fuel combustion. Because coal is abundant in several Partner countries, significant benefit can be gained by working together to improve these technologies and promote their adoption. The use of carbon dioxide capture and storage will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use. Natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are critical components in helping Partner countries meet the rapidly growing need for high-quality, affordable, and lower emission energy.

The Cleaner Fossil Energy Task Force has developed 13 initial projects and activities as first steps to facilitate its goal of using a range of key advanced coal and gas technologies that can power a cleaner economy while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air-borne pollutants, and other environmental impacts.

U.S Task Force Members
Cleaner Fossil Energy Task Force Summary of Action Plan and Projects  10/31/06
Cleaner Fossil Energy Task Force on the APP International Website

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Sharing Best Practices in Cleaner Fossil Energy

Japan and the United States are co-sponsoring clean coal workshops to promote information sharing on IGCC and other clean coal technologies. Japan is working with Australia to improve its coal bed methane and carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration technologies. These efforts will result in millions of tons of CO₂ captured and stored in these Partner countries.

Transforming Markets for Clean Coal Technology and Natural Gas

Coal must first be gasified for use in many of the advanced clean coal plants, such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and other gas turbine based technologies. Demand for coal gasification technologies for the chemical industry is strong and expanding, in China, India, the United States, and in Japan where gasified coal is used for fertilizer production. To address this issue, Japan, Australia, and the United States will share information with China and India on development and standardization of gasifier designs, which in turn should improve the economies of scale for the design and production of gasifiers.

Market mechanisms to support transport and processing of gas play a major role in increasing the use of natural gas. Australia and the United States are working to identify and address potential barriers to the delivery of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and cross-border pipeline gas. Additionally, they are working to improve processing and transportation technologies.

Promoting Research and Development in Cleaner Fossil Energy

A number of the projects under this Task Force are designed to promote the development of advanced technologies. In addition, Partners are involved in transfer of advanced technologies and know-how through a range of exchanges, cooperative research and individual demonstration projects for such technologies as carbon capture and storage, supercritical pulverized coal, oxyfuel combustion, and enhanced coal-bed technologies. 

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Summary of U.S. Led Cleaner Fossil Energy Projects

Coal Mine Methane to Energy Feasibility Study

Participating Organizations: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

In conjunction with EPA and the Methane to Markets Partnership, the APP has initiated a coal mine methane to energy project in the Hebi coal mining area, located in China's central Henan Province. EPA will be conducting a full feasibility study for the project which as the ability to leverage large scale private sector investment on the order of $15 million and result in mitigation of 250,000 metric tons of CO₂e each year, the annual carbon equivalent to removing up to 45,000 passenger vehicles from the roads.