The quest to solve dumsor should never put Ghanaians in dire straits. I do not mean that Clean Coal is impossible to achieve, however, it is Dangerous to assume that it will become Technically and Economically Feasible any time soon.
To start with, Coal is the most CO₂ intensive fossil fuel, and that is for every pound of coal burnt, it emits about 3 pounds of CO₂. In the case of Ghana, a typical 700-megawatt power plant will produces about 14,000 tons of (CO₂) daily. Collectively, Ghana's 700MW coal-fired power plant will generate some 5 million tons per year, and capturing that amount of (CO₂) would mean filling 102,000 barrels with liquid (CO₂) every single day. Such a coal-fired power plant emits the (CO₂) equivalent from one million SUVs.
On the issue of IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle), the coal power plants work on the principle that coal is gasified into a synthetic gas (syngas) to power a gas turbine. However, it must be strongly noted that Coal Gasification, Gas Turbines, and steam turbines are all elementary technologies. Instead, the integration of these into electric power plants that is new, and challenging.
Currently in the US, only two coal power plants out of the 32 proposed have been built. Even though it is said that IGCC is able to capture and store (CO₂), none actually do. The typical coal plants operate at 32-38% efficiency, while IGCC plants operate at 36-39% efficiency. IGCC “uncertainties” include lack of standard plant design, no performance guarantees, and high capital costs which Ghanaians are currently not ready for now.
An essential question of this technology for clean coal is, how much will it cost? Studies have it that Capital costs for IGCC plants are estimated to be 20-47% higher than traditional coal plants.
Again, it is estimated that capturing 90% of CO2 emissions from IGCC plants would increase the total cost of electricity by 38%. This is woefully not the best for Ghanaians.
An estimated $17/ton of CO2 is the cost of compression, therefore the VRA/IPP joint venture for 700 MW plant emitting 5 million tons/year of CO2 would cost approximately $85,Million USD/year just for compression.
Despite the fact the NOx and mercury emissions aren’t any better than a conventional coal plant with modern pollution controls, the IGCC plant would cost 9-11 cents/kWh; and capturing and transporting the carbon would add at least 8-9 cents/kWh. This will in effect give a total of 17-20 cents/kWh.
On the issue of CCS (Carbon Sequestration) which basically works on the background of eternally storing emitted CO₂ gas without leaking for of years. The irony of this whole CCS technology is we don't even know if the million metric tons of (CO₂) gas will stay buried.
<<Print>>