The Government has announced to launch coal gasification-pilot projects in the Union Budget 2022-23.
According to the Budget announcement, four pilot projects for coal gasification and conversion of coal into chemicals required for the industry will be set up for technical and financial viability.
What is Coal Gasification?
- Coal gasification is a process in which coal is partially oxidised with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to form a fuel gas.
- The resulting “syngas” is comprised primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and occasionally other gaseous compounds.
- This gas is then used instead of piped natural gas , methane and others for deriving energy.
- Coal gasification is said to have greater efficiency than conventional coal-burning because it can effectively use the gases twice.
Concerns
- In the coal gasification technology, instead of burning the fossil fuel, it is chemically transformed into synthetic natural gas (SNG).
- Coal gasification actually produces more carbon dioxide (CO2) than a conventional coal-powered thermal power plant.
- Coal gasification plants are costlier than conventional power plants.
- Coal gasification is one of the more water-intensive forms of energy production.
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