Clean coal key to meeting global energy demand

By Greg Boyce (China Daily) Updated: 2014-11-10 10:14

I contend this model can be used globally to bring affordable energy to communities where many families are living without.

If we are serious about solving energy poverty, we should use more coal, more cleanly to create low-cost energy access for billions who lack it.

China uses coal for about 80 percent of its power and has articulated twin goals of maintaining a supply of affordable energy and deploying technology to improve the environment.

In the next four to six years, China will move aggressively to implement air quality measures that took the United States four decades to achieve. And China is moving on a scale that is roughly three to four times that of the United States.

It may seem counter-intuitive for the head of the world's largest coal company to advocate eliminating certain uses of coal - but that is exactly what is needed in some regions for rapid improvement in air quality.

We agree with China's plan to eliminate use of coal for domestic heating and industrial uses without adequate emission controls, which includes addressing widespread use of coal for apartments, hotels or restaurant use.

China's effort to deploy emission controls this year alone is equivalent to equipping half the entire US coal fleet.

China also leads the world in the deployment of high-efficiency technologies, and houses more than half the world's advanced coal fleet.

This technology should be the global standard and has a much lower carbon dioxide footprint than traditional plants.

In longer term, China is advancing GreenGen, a signature next generation carbon capture project for coal-fueled energy that would be virtually emission-free.

Ultimately GreenGen will use carbon capture to create more energy through enhanced oil recovery.

We can end the most challenging human and environmental crisis of our time if we are willing to work across all sectors, with multinationals, non-governmental organizations and governments all over the world.

With the right policies, the right priorities and the right technologies, we can light up the lives of billions.

The author is chairman and chief executive officer of Peabody Energy, the world's largest private sector coal company and a global leader in sustainable mining and clean coal solutions. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.