Co-operation of Polish and US scientists in the area of clean coal technologies

Projects concerning coal liquefaction and gasification, clean technologies for coal burning and the possibility of capturing and storing carbon dioxide will be jointly undertaken by scientists form Silesia and the USA. On 23 June three institutes signed a relevant agreement.

The memorandum signed in Katowice concerns the co-operation between the Central Mining Institute (CMI), Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal (ICPC) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It is the only agreement of this type signed by this American institution in Poland.

“The USA have been working on clean coal technologies for nearly 20 years now, they also develop advanced research concerning new types of fuel. Being allowed to co-operate with them in this area is a big achievement" concluded professor Józef Dubiński,

head of the Central Mining Institute.

The memorandum states that the objective of the agreement are joint activities aimed at improving the technological, environmental and economic aspects of fossil fuels technologies. It concerns in particular the coal gasification (also underground), modern technologies for utilizing carbon dioxide, storing of carbon dioxide and co-combustion of coal with other fuels, as well as production of liquid fuels from coal.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is a state unit managed by the US Department of Energy, whose basic goal is ensuring energy security for the USA.

NETL introduces advanced research and development programmes with the aim of producing “clean energy” using fossil fuels. Even though the USA has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, one of the priorities of the national laboratory is the reduction of carbon dioxide emission.

It is estimated that the emission of carbon dioxide related to human activities increased over the course of the last two centuries to over 33 billion tons. US Energy Information Administration anticipates that if no appropriate action is taken, by 2030 the USA alone will emit 33 percent more CO2 than in 2005.

In order to reduce the emission, by 2012 NETL plans to prepare a portfolio of safe and commercially viable technologies for capturing, storing, and reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. During the same time demonstration power plants that do not emit carbon dioxide are to be in operation in Europe. MAB PAP – Science in Poland.

(source: www.nauka.gov.pl)