In The Power of High Efficiency Coal, released March 23, the WCA said not only can HELE coal-fired power generation abate more emissions than renewables, but also that 1.1 billion metric tons (mt) of CO2 can be avoided annually by 2040 with the deployment of HELE technologies.
The report also indicated that HELE coal technology is one of the most cost-efficient ways to reduce carbon emission while also providing electricity at an affordable rate.
“As we approach the signing of the Paris Agreement next month, it is important to recognize that HELE technologies are vital to its long-term success,” WCA Chief Executive Benjamin Sporton said.
“Nationally Determined Contributions submitted by countries in the lead-up to COP21 are the foundation of the Paris Agreement, and in many of those plans, HELE coal technology plays a significant role. The power of HELE technology needs to be understood.”
The official also spotlighted its research findings that changing focus away from the least efficient coal technology to a more efficient method is the lowest-cost option for reducing emissions of CO2.
“In southeast Asia, coal can generate electricity at close to half the price of gas, and deploying high-efficiency coal for power generation [there] costs a fifth less than using wind. That’s why demand for coal is forecast to grow significantly in the region in the decades to come,” Sporton said.
With the Paris Agreement implementation coming, the WCA is now pushing for the establishment of an international mechanism to provide financial and other needed support to fast-track HELE technology.
The Power of High Efficiency Coal can be viewed in its entirety here.
