MCA backs HELE coal technology

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has called for a technology-neutral approach to Australia’s future electricity generation mix, allowing the country to continue to take advantage of its domestic coal resources.

“The simple fact is that coal-fired generation is central to the affordability and reliability of Australia’s energy supply,” said Greg Evans, MCA’s Executive Director – Coal, in a statement posted to the MCA’s website. Coal supplies 76% of the Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM).

“As comes of Australia’s aging coal plants retire, there is an opportunity for them to be replaced by new generation high-efficiency low-emissions (HELE) coal plants that can reduce CO2 emissions by 50% and are the equivalent of gas-fired electricity in terms of total emissions,” Evans continued.

Evans pointed to examples of HELE technology implementation in Germany, where efficiency rates at some lignite-fired plants have reached well over 40%.

“Many nations around the world are investing in these new generation power plants that meet the goal of ensuring reliable supply, while reducing emissions and not harming economic development,” concluded Evans. “The bottom line is that governments should not mandate the composition of the energy mix.”

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/28072016/mca-backs-hele-coal-technology-2016-2104/