Cleaner, Coal and Emissions

As states use less coal for electricity, driving electric vehicles becomes even cleaner

Green Car Congress

APRIL 13, 2020

The calculated relative amounts of well-to-wheels emissions of greenhouse gases from eight different energy sources are shown in the table below. These results indicate that coal and oil are the energy sources leading to most emissions, and that hydro, wind, and nuclear are the energy sources leading to least emissions.

Coal

Coal Cleaner Electric Vehicles Alaska

As states continue to use less coal for electricity, driving electric vehicles becomes even cleaner

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

The calculated relative amounts of well-to-wheels emissions of greenhouse gases from eight different energy sources are shown in the table below. These results indicate that coal and oil are the energy sources leading to most emissions, and that hydro, wind, and nuclear are the energy sources leading to least emissions.

Coal

Coal West Virginia North Dakota Cleaner

DOE announces $64M for research into future coal power plants

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $64 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects under the funding opportunity announcement ( DE-FOA-0002057 ), “Critical Components for Coal FIRST Power Plants of the Future.”. —Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg.

Coal

Coal Future Power Powered

Novel adaptation for existing blast furnaces could reduce steelmaking emissions by 88%; closed-loop carbon recycling

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 26, 2023

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have designed a novel adaptation for existing blast furnaces that could reduce CO 2 emissions from the steelmaking industry by nearly 90%. billion in 5 years while reducing overall UK emissions by 2.9%. If implemented in the UK alone, the system could deliver cost savings of £1.28

Carbon

Carbon Emissions Cleaner Gas-Electric

CSIRO and partners to test Direct Injection Carbon Engine to reduce brown coal emissions by up to 50%

Green Car Congress

APRIL 28, 2014

DICE involves converting coal or biomass into a water-based slurry (called micronised refined carbon, MRC) that is directly injected into a large, specially adapted diesel engine. CSIRO is excited about the potential for DICE to lower power costs, halve carbon dioxide intensity and create a new export market for both brown and black coal.

Coal

Coal Carbon Engine Emissions

SK Inc. Materials initiates blue ammonia business with offtake agreement with ExxonMobil

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

SK seeks to import blue ammonia produced from ExxonMobil to South Korea in support of reducing industrial emissions. When co-fired with coal in an existing Coal Fired Power Plant (CFPP), blue ammonia emits no additional CO 2 , and total emissions from power generation is reduced by the amount of blue ammonia co-fired.

South Korea

South Korea Coal Hydrogen Carbon

Tsinghua/Argonne Study Finds That Mass Use of EVs in China Could Result in Higher CO2 and Criteria Pollutant Emissions Than Conventional and Hybrid Gasoline Vehicles Due to Coal-Fired Generation of Electricity

Green Car Congress

MAY 25, 2010

Fuel-cycle SO 2 emissions of EVs compared to those of gasoline ICEVs and HEVs in China, current (left) and future (right). The study examined the fuel-cycle CO 2 , SO 2 , and NO x emissions of EVs in China in both current (2008) and future (2030) periods and compared them with those of conventional gasoline vehicles and gasoline hybrids.

Coal

Coal Gasoline-Electric Gasoline Pollution

Don't worry about coal, electric cars are still cleaner

Green Car Reports

JANUARY 30, 2019

One of the easiest ways for electric-car drivers to get in an argument is discussing how much coal-fired electricity contributes to pollution. It shows that electric cars are cleaner—even when they do run on primarily.

Cleaner

Cleaner Coal Electric Cars Cars

Modified SOFC anodes allow operation at lower temperatures with carbon-containing gases; potential for much more efficient and cleaner generation of electricity from coal

Green Car Congress

JUNE 25, 2011

gasified coal—by eliminating the coking problem. The resulting lower-temperature SOFCs could provide a cleaner, more efficient alternative to conventional power plants for generating electricity from coal reserves. An open access paper on their work was published 21 June in the journal Nature Communications.

Coal

Coal Carbon Cleaner Water

BloombergNEF: clean energy investment in developing nations slumps as financing in China slows; coal burn surges to record high

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

While the number of new clean power-generating plants completed stayed flat year-to-year, the volume of power derived from coal surged to a new high, according to Climatescope , an annual survey of 104 emerging markets conducted by research firm BloombergNEF (BNEF). thousand terawatt-hours in 2018, up from 6.4 thousand in 2017.

Coal

Coal Clean Cleaning Financing

Obama climate plan calls for new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles post-2018; cleaner fuels and investment in advanced fossil energy

Green Car Congress

JUNE 25, 2013

President Obama’s plan, which sidesteps the need for Congressional involvement by relying on a wide variety of executive actions, has three main components: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Leading international efforts for GHG emission reductions and adaptation. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the US.

Obama

Obama Cleaner Fuel Economy Climate

In less than a decade, electric cars have already become this much cleaner

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 14, 2020

For those who care about the environment and keeping their driving footprint small, one of the most compelling selling points for electric cars is that your car gets cleaner over time—because the electricity you’re plugging into, from the power grid, is being weaned off coal and toward cleaner and more sustainable sources.

Cleaner

Cleaner Electric Cars Power Grid Coal

US Fuels acquires coal-to-diesel IP for scalable plants near mine sites

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 22, 2012

Startup US Fuel Corporation (USF), which plans to design, build, own and operate scalable facilities near coal mine sites to convert coal into synthetic fuels, will acquire coal-to-diesel intellectual property (IP) that USF co-developed with an executive team consisting of Paul Adams and Steve Luck. Andrew Halarewicz, Sr.

Coal

Coal Diesel Fuel Kentucky

Accelergy Begins Production of Synthetic Jet Fuel from Coal and Biomass; USAF to Evaluate for 100% Synthetic Fuel Use

Green Car Congress

MARCH 24, 2010

Accelergy Corporation has begun production of a synthetic fuel from coal and biomass, to be evaluated by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the industry benchmark for 100% synthetic jet fuel. The CBTL process maintains a high overall thermal efficiency while resulting in 20% lower CO 2 emissions than conventional refining methods.

Coal

Coal Fuel North Dakota Production

Last remaining UK coal power plant has closed

Green Car Reports

OCTOBER 2, 2024

powered down the final coal power plant In 2017 the U.K. set a goal of 2025 for the end of coal use The U.S. has closed its last coal-fired power plant, according to a report by energy think tank Ember marking an important step in the transition toward cleaner energy.

Coal

Coal Power Powered Cleaner

DOE: US average EV CO2e/year is 4,815 lbs, vs. 11,435 lbs for average gasoline car

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

Although all-electric vehicles (EVs) produce zero tailpipe emissions, there are upstream emissions of greenhouse gases from electricity production. Using electricity production data by source and state, the DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has estimated the annual carbon dioxide (CO 2 e)-equivalent emissions of a typical EV.

Gasoline

Gasoline Vermont Alternative Fuels 2015

Study suggests China urban passenger transport emissions could peak in 2030

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 9, 2019

A team of researchers in China suggest that, in the context of promoting the use of clean fuel vehicles and increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, CO 2 emissions of China’s urban passenger transport sector could reach a peak of 225 MtCO 2 in 2030. A paper on their study appears in the journal Energy Policy. —Li and Yu.

Transportation

Transportation Emissions China Taxi

DOE selects 9 universities for about $2.7M in advanced coal technologies research awards

Green Car Congress

JUNE 7, 2012

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected nine universities for awards for research projects that will continue to support innovation and development of advanced, lower emission coal technologies. The Energy Department’s $2.7 million investment will be leveraged with additional funds from the universities to support $3.1

Coal

Coal Universal Indiana Tennessee

Reducing Black Carbon Emissions and Ground-Level Ozone Would Provide Immediate Benefit Against Climate Change

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 21, 2009

Reducing emissions of black carbon soot and ground-level ozone would quickly make a considerable dent in the climate change problem and would also contribute to public health and protect crop yields, according to an essay in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs. Ramanathan. Besides a danger to breathe, ozone lowers crop yields.

Climate Change

Climate Change Ozone Climate Carbon

Tsinghua University provincial-level lifecycle study finds fuel-cycle criteria pollutants of EVs in China could be up to 5x those of natural gas vehicles due to China’s coal-dominant power mix

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 12, 2013

In regions where the share of coal-based electricity is relatively low, EVs can achieve substantial GHG reduction, the team reports in a paper in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. emissions are less important because of the low contribution of light duty vehicles to national PM 10 and PM 2.5

Coal

Coal Pollution China Gas

TCEQ grants air quality permits to Tenaska new-build carbon capturing coal plant in Texas; 85-90% capture

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 15, 2010

Trailblazer will be the first new-build carbon capturing coal plant in Texas to receive an air quality permit. Plans call for advanced technology at the plant to capture 85 to 90% of the plant’s CO 2 and greatly minimize other emissions. Earlier post.).

Coal

Coal Texas Grant Carbon

ICCT LCA study finds only battery and hydrogen fuel-cell EVs have potential to be very low-GHG passenger vehicle pathways

Green Car Congress

JULY 21, 2021

The ICCT has conducted a comprehensive global and temporal life-cycle assessment of GHG emissions from a variety of alternative passenger car powertrains and fuels. The life-cycle GHG emissions of cars registered in 2021 are compared with those of cars expected to be registered in 2030. Source: The ICCT.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen Fuel Battery Batteries

Accelergy Receives Grant from Pennsylvania for Feasibility Study on Coal-Biomass-to-Liquids

Green Car Congress

JULY 15, 2010

Following the site selection and facility design process, the Alliance will request a formal grant from the Commonwealth to construct a demonstration plant and produce its cleaner fuel on a larger scale. Earlier post.). The Alliance expects to complete the study in three to four months.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Grant Coal Carbon

GCP Carbon Budget Finds Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions Rose 2% in 2008 Despite Global Financial Crisis; Natural Sinks Not Keeping Pace With Increasing Emissions

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Despite the economic effects of the global financial crisis (GFC), carbon dioxide emissions from human activities rose 2% in 2008 to an all-time high of 1.3 Other main findings of the study include: CO 2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels have increased at an average annual rate of 3.4% over the previous seven years.

2008

2008 Emissions Carbon Climate Change

Emissions of Air Pollutants down in EU-27

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 22, 2009

The European Community’s air pollutant emission inventory report released by the European Environment Agency finds that in 2007, sulphur oxides (SO x ) emissions were down by 72 % from 1990 levels. EU-27 emissions of all four pollutants were lower in 2007 than in 2006.

Pollution

Pollution Emissions Czech Republic United Kingdom

Ignite Energy Resources and TRUenergy Plan Direct Coal-to-Liquids and Coal Drying Demo Project for Supercritical Water Technology

Green Car Congress

JULY 10, 2009

Ignite Energy Resources (IER), developer of a supercritical water technology, and TRUenergy have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a commercial demonstration plant that will apply IER’s direct coal-to-oil and upgraded dry coal process to the brown coal at TRUenergy’s Yallourn mine in Australia.

Coal

Coal Water Energy Cleaner

Accelergy Licenses EERC Technology for Coal Biomass to Synthetic Jet Fuels Process

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 15, 2009

Accelergy Corporation, an advanced coal-to-liquids company, has formed a strategic partnership with the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota.

Coal

Coal San Diego North Dakota Fuel

DOE moves FutureGen 2.0 CCS project forward into second phase

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

The project is important part of a portfolio of approaches we are pursuing to reduce carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and perhaps other large, localized CO 2 emitters. with oxy-combustion technology to capture more than 1 million tons of CO 2 each year—more than 90% of the plant’s carbon emissions.

Coal

Coal Illinois Exhaust Carbon

California ARB: GHG emissions fell below 1990 levels for first time in 2016; down 13% from 2004 peak; transportation emissions up 2%

Green Car Congress

JULY 12, 2018

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that greenhouse gas emissions in California in 2016 fell below 1990 levels for the first time since emissions peaked in 2004—a reduction roughly equivalent to taking 12 million cars off the road or saving 6 billion gallons of gasoline a year.

2004

2004 2016 Emissions California

Dominion Energy sets new goal of net zero emissions by 2050 for both power generation, natural gas operations

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 12, 2020

Dominion Energy announced a significant expansion of the company's greenhouse gas emissions-reduction goals, establishing a new commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The goal covers carbon dioxide and methane emissions, the dominant greenhouse gases, from both electricity generation and gas infrastructure operations.

Emissions

Emissions Gas Energy Power

How China's horrific air quality magically turns cleaner: cotton

Green Car Reports

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

But officials in one Chinese city found a way to at least make that air appear cleaner, for awhile. DON'T MISS: Coal in China: huge problem for. China is known for having some of the most polluted air in the world.

Cleaner

Cleaner China Coal Pollution

US and China Presidents Announce US-China Electric Vehicles Initiative, Six Other Measures to Strengthen Cooperation Between the Countries on Energy Issues

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 18, 2009

The two leaders emphasized their countries’ strong shared interest in accelerating the deployment of electric vehicles in order to reduce oil dependence, cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic growth. Initial research priorities will be building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles.

China

China Coal Electric Vehicles Energy

Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal; RFS2, BCAP, BIWG and Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 4, 2010

In addition, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum creating an Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage to develop a comprehensive and coordinated federal strategy to speed the development and deployment of advanced lower-emission coal technologies. Biomass-based diesel. Cellulosic biofuel.

Obama

Obama Coal Clean Cleaning

UCS analysis finds Hyundai-Kia with best sales-weighted new vehicle environmental performance in US in 2013

Green Car Congress

MAY 27, 2014

In its sixth sales-weighted analysis of emissions from 8 major automakers’ 2013 model year vehicles, the Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) latest Automaker Rankings report found that Hyundai-Kia unseated Honda as the “Greenest Automaker.” Click to enlarge. Source: UCS. Source: UCS. Click to enlarge.

2013

2013 Kia Hyundai Sale

Study finds that worldwide SO2 emissions rose between 2000-2005 after decade of decline; China, shipping topped growth

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

Global sulfur dioxide emissions by region. The analysis by researchers in the US and Europe estimates anthropogenic global and regional sulfur dioxide emissions spanning the period 1850–2005 using a bottom-up mass balance method, calibrated to country-level inventory data. Emissions were distributed on a 0.5° Click to enlarge.

2005

2005 2000 Emissions China

CMU study finds that coal retirement is needed for EVs to reduce air pollution

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Electric vehicles charged in coal-heavy regions can create more human health and environmental damages from life cycle air emissions than gasoline vehicles, according to a new consequential life cycle analysis by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University. UC stands for uncontrolled charging and CC stands for controlled charging.

Coal

Coal Pollution Grid Gasoline-Electric

Harvard team finds large-scale US wind power would cause warming that would take roughly a century to offset

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 5, 2018

All large-scale energy systems have environmental impacts, and the ability to compare the impacts of renewable energy sources is an important step in planning a future without coal or gas power. Wind beats coal by any environmental measure, but that doesn’t mean that its impacts are negligible. Source: Miller and Keith (2018a).

Wind

Wind Power Powered Coal

IEA: COVID-19 crisis causing the biggest fall in global energy investment in history

Green Car Congress

MAY 31, 2020

The crisis has brought lower emissions but for all the wrong reasons. If we are to achieve a lasting reduction in global emissions, then we will need to see a rapid increase in clean energy investment. In absolute terms, it remains far below the levels that would be required to accelerate energy transitions. —Dr Birol.

Global

Global Energy Coal 2020

National Academies Report Examines Hidden Cost of Energy Production and Use in US; Estimates $120B in 2005

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 22, 2009

A new report from the National Research Council examines and, when possible, estimates, “hidden” costs of energy production and use—such as the damage air pollution imposes on human health—that are not reflected in market prices of coal, oil, other energy sources, or the electricity and gasoline produced from them.

2005

2005 Cost Of Energy Coal

I’ve Done The Math – Now I’m Doing Something About It

Creative Greenius

OCTOBER 18, 2013

But our friends in the oil, coal and gas industry have 5,795 gigatons of carbon on the books. Every one of those companies’ financial futures depends on that 5,795 gigatons of carbon being turned into greenhouse gas emissions that will literally cook the planet past the point of human habitation.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Oil Chevron

IEA: carbon intensity of global energy supply has barely changed in last 20 years; “window of opportunity in transport”

Green Car Congress

APRIL 18, 2013

The global energy supply became 6% cleaner from 1971 to 1990,in response to the oil shocks of the 1970s. The IEA said that this reflects the continued domination of fossil fuels—particularly coal—in the energy mix and the slow uptake of other, lower-carbon supply technologies. tCO 2 /TJ (2.39 tCO 2 /toe); in 2010 it was 56.7

Carbon

Carbon Supplies Global Transportation

GE Technology Selected for Hydrogen Energy IGCC Project in California

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2009

In 2007, GE and BP formed a global alliance to jointly develop and deploy technology for at least five IGCC power plants that could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation. The technology proposed for the Hydrogen Energy California plant would convert petroleum coke, coal or a combination of each into syngas.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen California Energy Tampa

ArcelorMittal investigates hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore for steel production; CDA

Green Car Congress

MARCH 31, 2019

To permanently reduce CO 2 emissions, steelmaker ArcelorMittal has developed a low-emissions technology strategy, which targets not only the use of alternative feedstocks and the conversion of CO 2 emissions, but also the direct avoidance of carbon (Carbon Direct Avoidance, CDA). Valentin Vogl, Max Åhman, Lars J. 2018.08.279.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen Production Carbon Waste

Coal Into Cars: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Plugs and Cars

AUGUST 19, 2007

The Ugly Coal sucks, there's really no two ways about it. But not all use of coal is alike. The Good About half our electricity comes from coal, and that will change, at best, slowly as we move to renewables. That includes the worst, most coal dependent areas. It's the plug, stupid.

Coal

Coal Costa Rica Gasoline-Electric Cars

As states use less coal for electricity, driving electric vehicles becomes even cleaner

As states continue to use less coal for electricity, driving electric vehicles becomes even cleaner

DOE announces $64M for research into future coal power plants

Novel adaptation for existing blast furnaces could reduce steelmaking emissions by 88%; closed-loop carbon recycling

CSIRO and partners to test Direct Injection Carbon Engine to reduce brown coal emissions by up to 50%

SK Inc. Materials initiates blue ammonia business with offtake agreement with ExxonMobil

Tsinghua/Argonne Study Finds That Mass Use of EVs in China Could Result in Higher CO2 and Criteria Pollutant Emissions Than Conventional and Hybrid Gasoline Vehicles Due to Coal-Fired Generation of Electricity

Don't worry about coal, electric cars are still cleaner

Modified SOFC anodes allow operation at lower temperatures with carbon-containing gases; potential for much more efficient and cleaner generation of electricity from coal

BloombergNEF: clean energy investment in developing nations slumps as financing in China slows; coal burn surges to record high

Obama climate plan calls for new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles post-2018; cleaner fuels and investment in advanced fossil energy

In less than a decade, electric cars have already become this much cleaner

US Fuels acquires coal-to-diesel IP for scalable plants near mine sites

Accelergy Begins Production of Synthetic Jet Fuel from Coal and Biomass; USAF to Evaluate for 100% Synthetic Fuel Use

Last remaining UK coal power plant has closed

DOE: US average EV CO2e/year is 4,815 lbs, vs. 11,435 lbs for average gasoline car

Study suggests China urban passenger transport emissions could peak in 2030

DOE selects 9 universities for about $2.7M in advanced coal technologies research awards

Reducing Black Carbon Emissions and Ground-Level Ozone Would Provide Immediate Benefit Against Climate Change

Tsinghua University provincial-level lifecycle study finds fuel-cycle criteria pollutants of EVs in China could be up to 5x those of natural gas vehicles due to China’s coal-dominant power mix

TCEQ grants air quality permits to Tenaska new-build carbon capturing coal plant in Texas; 85-90% capture

ICCT LCA study finds only battery and hydrogen fuel-cell EVs have potential to be very low-GHG passenger vehicle pathways

Accelergy Receives Grant from Pennsylvania for Feasibility Study on Coal-Biomass-to-Liquids

GCP Carbon Budget Finds Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions Rose 2% in 2008 Despite Global Financial Crisis; Natural Sinks Not Keeping Pace With Increasing Emissions

Emissions of Air Pollutants down in EU-27

Ignite Energy Resources and TRUenergy Plan Direct Coal-to-Liquids and Coal Drying Demo Project for Supercritical Water Technology

Accelergy Licenses EERC Technology for Coal Biomass to Synthetic Jet Fuels Process

DOE moves FutureGen 2.0 CCS project forward into second phase

California ARB: GHG emissions fell below 1990 levels for first time in 2016; down 13% from 2004 peak; transportation emissions up 2%

Dominion Energy sets new goal of net zero emissions by 2050 for both power generation, natural gas operations

How China's horrific air quality magically turns cleaner: cotton

US and China Presidents Announce US-China Electric Vehicles Initiative, Six Other Measures to Strengthen Cooperation Between the Countries on Energy Issues

Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal; RFS2, BCAP, BIWG and Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force

UCS analysis finds Hyundai-Kia with best sales-weighted new vehicle environmental performance in US in 2013

Study finds that worldwide SO2 emissions rose between 2000-2005 after decade of decline; China, shipping topped growth

CMU study finds that coal retirement is needed for EVs to reduce air pollution

Harvard team finds large-scale US wind power would cause warming that would take roughly a century to offset

IEA: COVID-19 crisis causing the biggest fall in global energy investment in history

National Academies Report Examines Hidden Cost of Energy Production and Use in US; Estimates $120B in 2005

I’ve Done The Math – Now I’m Doing Something About It

IEA: carbon intensity of global energy supply has barely changed in last 20 years; “window of opportunity in transport”

GE Technology Selected for Hydrogen Energy IGCC Project in California

ArcelorMittal investigates hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore for steel production; CDA

Coal Into Cars: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

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