[Federal Register: December 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 233)]
[Notices]
[Page 72634-72635]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de05-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Proposed Draft Cost and Performance Goals for the Department of
Energy's Coal and Related Technologies Program
AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of proposed draft cost and performance for the
Department of Energy's coal and related technologies program, and
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Section 962 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), (42
U.S.C. 16292), directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct coal
research and development programs and, in carrying out such programs,
to identify proposed draft cost and performance goals for coal-based
technologies that would permit the continued cost-competitive use of
coal for the production of electricity, chemical feedstocks, and
transportation fuels. In compliance with section 962(b) of EPAct, this
notice requests public comment on the proposed goals.
DATES: Comments on the draft cost and performance goals are due
December 27, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy, ATTN: Darren
Mollot, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Darren Mollot, Office of Clean
Coal, Office of Fossil Energy, (202) 586-0429, darren.mollot@hq.doe.gov
or Mr. John Grasser, Director of Communications, Office of Fossil
Energy, (202) 586-6803, john.grasser@hq.doe.gov, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 962 of EPAct directed DOE to conduct
a program of technology research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application for coal and power systems (42 U.S.C. 16292(a)).
In carrying out these programs, DOE was also directed to identify
proposed draft cost and performance goals for coal-based technologies
that would permit the continued cost-competitive use of coal for the
production of electricity, chemical feedstocks, and transportation
fuels (42 U.S.C. 16292(b)). Proposed draft cost and performance goals
for program activities currently funded and undertaken by DOE to
facilitate production and generation of coal-based power are summarized
in the table below.
These aggressive goals are for technology that does not yet exist.
The goals provide a basis for guiding technology development, and
program funding. They are not being proposed as the basis for present
or future regulations or legally binding standards, nor do they attempt
to project dates by which technologies will be developed or
commercially available. The dates for achieving the targeted goals
relate to the projected need for maintaining existing coal-based
electric plant capability and for significantly increasing coal-based
electric power capacity beginning in the 2010 to 2020 time frame
(Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook, February
2005). Achieving the performance goals within these dates will depend
on continued availability of funding. The overall program objective is
to develop coal-based technologies that will enable the continued use
of coal as a valued energy resource for the Nation.
These proposed goals were established based on a variety of
information and data, including the status of current coal-based
technology and results from on-going research and development programs
carried out by industry, university, and national laboratories. They
were developed through feedback from workshops held by DOE that
resulted in developing a coal program roadmap to meet national needs
and from workshops on advanced technology to improve environmental
performance, energy system efficiency, and lower cost of coal-based
energy systems. In establishing these goals, DOE consulted with coal-
based technology equipment vendors, users (e.g. electric utilities),
and technology developers. Consultations also included exchanges with
the Coal Utilization Research Council, the Electric Power Research
Institute, and with other organizations, including environmental and
consumer groups.
An integrated plan to achieve the performance and cost goals is
presented in the DOE Office of Clean Coal Strategic Plan. The latest
version of this Strategic Plan is undergoing internal review and will
be issued shortly and then made available to the public on the National
Energy Technology Laboratory Web site at http://www.netl.doe.gov/coal/index.html.
Detailed program plans, roadmaps, and other documents
related to the goals of individual programs are currently available on
the Web site.
Some of the program activities to facilitate production and
generation of coal-based power listed in section 962(a) of EPAct have
not been funded to date. Therefore, no cost and performance goals have
been established for those activities, which include advanced
combustion systems, the liquid fuels portion of coal-derived liquids
and transportation fuels (except for hydrogen), liquid fuels derived
from low rank coal water slurry, and solid fuels and feedstocks.
The following table identifies cost and performance goals for
currently funded program activities under DOE's coal and related
technologies program. Some of the activities include more than one of
those listed in section 962(a). Advanced Power Systems includes cost
and performance goals for gasification systems, turbines for synthesis
gas derived from coal, and advanced separation technologies (oxygen).
Carbon Sequestration also includes advanced separation technologies
(carbon dioxide) and work on advanced combustion technology. Hydrogen
and Fuels activities are part of coal-derived chemicals and
transportation fuels and also include advanced separation technologies
(hydrogen). All of the below listed program activities encompass some
aspect of advanced coal-related research activities.
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Performance goals *
Program activity ---------------------------------------------------- Cost Goals *
Efficiency Environmental
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Innovations for Existing Plants..... Maintain current plant Mercury (Hg): 50-70% 70% of today's cost
efficiency while reduction by 2007; 90% (per lb of mercury
achieving the reduction by 2010 removed).
environmental
performance and cost
goals
........................ Nitrogen Oxides (NOX): 50-75% of current
< 0.15 lb/million Btu by selective catalytic
2007; < 0.10 lb/million reduction (SCR)
Btu by 2010 capital cost.
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Advanced Power Systems.............. 45-50% higher heating Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): 2012 goal: < 10%
value (HHV) efficiency >99% removal increase in cost of
to electricity by 2010 NOX: < 0.01 lb/million electricity services
Multi-product capability Btu in zero emission
(e.g. power and Hg: >90% removal Carbon advanced gasification
hydrogen) with over 60% Dioxide (CO2) capture: plants integrated
efficiency by 2015 >90% with carbon
sequestration.
Carbon Sequestration................ Efficiency of current 90% CO2 capture and 2012 goal: < 10%
and new plants sequestration increase in cost of
consistent with cost of electricity services
electricity target to separate, capture,
transport, and
sequester carbon
using either direct
or indirect systems.
Hydrogen and Fuels.................. Efficiency consistent Emissions consistent Hydrogen at $0.90/gal.
with advanced power with advanced power gasoline equivalent
systems systems (gge) by 2010 and
$0.79 gge by 2015
with no incentives or
tax credits when
integrated with
advanced coal power
systems.
Fuel Cell Systems (Coal-based fuel 40-60% (40% for kilowatt Emissions consistent $400/kW capital cost
cell/turbine hybrids). sizes; 60% for megawatt with advanced power for fuel cell power
class hybrid systems systems modules (in kilowatt
integrated with coal sizes by 2010 and
gasification) megawatt class
hybrids by 2015).
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* All dates shown are meant to indicate the completion dates for ongoing research. The referenced technologies
will still have to be commercially demonstrated before they are ready or are available for commercial
deployment.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 30, 2005.
Mark R. Maddox,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. E5-6902 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P