Coal-to-Hydrogen System Performance and Economics

Although no coal gasification-based polygeneration plant that coproduces hydrogen and electricity currently exists, the technologies required for such a plant are fairly mature. Many heavy oil-based facilities, which utilize similar technology, have already been in operation. There have been many studies and analysis conducted to evaluate the system performance and economics of such coal-to-hydrogen systems. 

A study by Mitretek,42 sponsored by DOE, compared various configurations of a coal-based hydrogen production plant that uses existing or future technologies for hydrogen separation, with or without C02 sequestrations. Some of the major findings of this study are listed in Table 11.5. 

It can be seen that even with C02 sequestration, the hydrogen produced via coal gasification is reasonably cost competitive with that produced through other means. Future technologies such as hot gas cleanup and advanced membranes have the 

Solutions for 21st century. IEA Technical Report, p. 2, 2002. Available at http //www.iea.org/ textbase/papers/2002/tsr layout.pdf. 

and Rao, A. A technical, economic and environmental assessment of amine-based C02 capture technology for power plant greenhouse gas control. Annual Technical Progress Report (submitted to DOE), October 2002. 

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