Carbon Capture and Storage for Coal Power Stations

Is there such a thing as clean coal? I would say no, or at least, not at an affordable cost. As Al Gore has said, there is currently no such thing as clean coal technology. (Also see http://www.thisisreality.org/)

What about CCS? Carbon Capture and Storage has been touted as the "solution" to coal power stations. However, this too is a fallacy. A recent McKinsey report (http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/ccsi/pdf/CCS_Assessing_the_Economics.pdf) lists CCS costs at USD80 to USD120 per ton now, and USD40 to USD60 per ton by 2030. That equates to R0,80to R1,20 per kWh now, and R0,40 to R0,60 per kWh by 2030.

The proposed new coal power stations for SA are touted to be "CCS ready" (whatever that means), but are we prepared to pay double the price for coal-based electricity, where even the long term storage possibilities for the CO₂ are dubious?

Read more in the following article: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/carbon-capture-its-possible-solutions-part-i/

Frank