Since the power sector is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, it is crucial to examine the types of fuels used to generate electricity, says a new report published by The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
Citing data from the Global Coal Plant Tracker, the report notes that coal led the pack in 2023, providing 35.9 per cent of electricity. Most coal plants are in Asia, with 76 per cent of capacity represented in Eastern Asia alone. China accounts for 68.17 per cent of installed capacity, which the report refers to as a “staggering” amount. In second place is India, which accounts for 14.22 per cent of coal plant capacity.
The report notes these coal plants emit around 7,610 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. China and India are the biggest contributors, responsible for 67.45% and 14.57% of the emissions, respectively.
With new coal plants still being planned and built in Asia, what can be done?
The report by Ali Habib, an energy consultant with Energytics Limited and a visiting research fellow at the OIES, explores whether hydrogen and carbon capture and storage could help mitigate the impact.
This paper aims to investigate the potential of hydrogen technology and synergies with the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology in mitigating carbon emissions from coal power plants in Asia. The paper first looks at the environmental footprint of coal fired power plants, then considers ammonia substitution as a means of reducing that impact, and finally discusses the potential of CCS as a pathway to decarbonization, including an introduction to the pairing of the nascent Oxy-fuel combustion technology with CCS, potentially combined with green hydrogen production, as a decarbonization pathway.
“Can Hydrogen and Carbon
Capture and Storage (CCS) help
Decarbonize the coal power
plants in Asia?” by Ali Habib, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, June 6, 2024.
Download the full report originally published by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies on June 6, 2024.
A note from the publisher: The contents of this paper are the author’s sole responsibility. They do not
necessarily represent the views of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies or any of its members.
