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Clean and Efficient Use of
Coal |
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Principal Investigators MIT:
K.Oye, J.Beer, Z.Cui, A.Sarofim ETH: H. Siegmann UT:
M.Sadakata, H.Shiroyama Tsinghua Univ. (China): X.Xu,
G.Yue
The cleaner and more efficient utilization of coal by
China may help sustain Chinese economic development while
simultaneously mitigating local and regional pollution problem and
reducing risks of global, regional and local interests creates
opportunities for international environmental cooperation.
Improved energy efficiency may ease one constraint on
Chinese economic development. Over the past decade, the economy has
grown, while energy intensity has dropped. By reducing demand for
energy per unit of output, improvements in energy efficiency may
ease short term energy bottlenecks and long term energy dependency.
Goals/Objectives
- To research environmental aid and coal combustion in China to
examine how the fit between local technical and economic
conditions and international aid programs affects the assimilation
of coal combustion technologies
- To examine domestic Chinese programs, bilateral Japanese
programs, Global Environment Facility (GEF), activities
implemented jointly, and other environmental initiatives that
promote clean and efficient combustion of coal in
China.
Results/Findings
- Compiled and analyzed a data set of 250 industrial boilers to
determine efficiency levels and determine the causes of low
performance. Boiler efficiency at 65% compared to 80% in
industrialized countries.
- Evaluated various technology options for reducing sulfur
emissions from coal combustion including processes and
“end-of-pipe” technologies.
- Appraised the fit between existing international clean coal
activities and local conditions in China.
- World Bank assumption that removing subsidies and price
controls would increase coal prices and incentivize greater
efficiency was wrong – coal prices dropped.
- The team identified programs to improve energy efficiency
with environmental side benefits in the existing boiler stock.
- Low cost modification to existing boiler stock has been
spurred through either regulatory inducements or access to
preferential financing.
- The Chinese government program of encouraging consolidation
of many small inefficient boilers into larger and more efficient
power generating boilers will yield substantial
improvements.
- The team’s examination of aid activities found that the aid
activities must be carefully designed to serve environmental and
economic interests of donors and recipients alike. The prospects
of development of aid as vehicles for addressing international
environmental externalities will also rest in part of the
explicit recognition of elements of self interest in the design
of these programs.
- Shared these with Chinese government officials, World Bank and
ABB.
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