Coal will be German’s national king.  It’s not to be confused with that Nat King Cole. Despite its reputation for emission of harmful gases, Germany’s electricity, thanks to cleaner technology, will come from coal.

Germany's electricity (thanks to cleaner technology) will come from coal

image source

Germany is Europe’s biggest power market and in order to phase out nuclear power the Krauts must continue to focus on coal. Dependence on coal will also help Germany reduce its reliance on Russian gas.

“The planners are finding coal the more attractive option as opposed to gas, price-wise and in terms of availability,” said Manuel Frondel of the RWE research institute in Essen.

Germany gets half of its power output from coal which comes from reliable sources (friends) like Australia and South Africa.

The new technology – carbon capture and storage (CCS) is keeping environmentalists happy…until the storage bins become too fool, um, full.

Russia and Ukraine cut supplies to Europe in January throwing the reliability of gas as an energy source into doubt at a time when it was most needed. Russia can eat its heart out if the rest of the world learns to do without.

Germany’s cabinet already approved a CCS draft laws to develop the technology aimed at cutting coal plant pollution and burying CO2 underground.

CCS is coal-fired power generation’s only hope to play a role in the energy mix. In Britain, coal plants are already being forced to use CCS technology.

“Although CCS will take 10 to 15 years to develop and it is by no means certain that it will be applicable, passing the law will be one of the arguments in favor of the construction of new coal-fired plants,” said Claudia Kemfert of the DIW institute.

Russia! Ukraine! Are you reading?!

If you're new here and you like our articles, how about subscribing free for our updates via RSS feed.

China does a pretty lousy job of getting the most from its coal. The country uses about 3.3 tons of raw material to produce one ton of coal while at the same time the U.S. uses about 1.25 tons to get the same result. Other countries that get about an 80% return are Australia, Germany and Canada.

The “Red Panda” is going to raise the recovery rate from its current 30% to at least 50% by 2010. Less we get all excited, China had hoped to be at 40% by last year. Still, if there is no goal they most definitely will hit nothing. Ten points for trying, eh?

China also hopes to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20% and cut the emission of major pollutants by 10% within the next five years. For what is worth, China’s stated owned mines have a mining recovery rate of 44% compared to just 10% for small and private coal mines. China gets about 80% of its electricity from coal. The better they get at it, the better for all of us, no?

Source: Xinhuanet

Image courtesy of robertg6n1