The future of coal as a transportation fuel
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Authors
Mittal, Vikram
Shah, Rajesh
Huq, Nabill
Issue Date
2021
Type
journal-article
Language
Keywords
Fuel , Transportation , Coal , Biofuel , Hydrogen , Syngas
Alternative Title
Abstract
Due to environmental concerns and cost issues, coal is currently being phased out from usage in electricity production. Regardless, there remains a massive stockpile of coal reserves along with a large industrial complex and a robust distribution/processing infrastructure. As such, coal should be considered for usage in other energy areas. Since coal is simply a solid hydrocarbon, it can be converted over for usage as a transportation fuel. The Fischer-Tropsch process that underlies this conversion is well established with some countries like South Africa currently using it at large scales. Unfortunately, this conversion process has a large carbon footprint, even when using carbon capture technology. However, the blending of coal-based fuels with biodiesel has been found to be more carbon neutral than standard diesel or biodiesel alone. Additionally, coal can be used as an alternate to methane for hydrogen production. Given carbon capture technologies and the existing coal infrastructure, these two uses of coal provide opportunities for a sustainable and economical use of coal as a transportation fuel.
Description
Citation
Mittal, V., Shah, R., & Huq, N. (2022). The future of coal as a transportation fuel. Energy & Environment, 33(7), 1265–1278. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X211037973
Publisher
Energy & Environment
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
0958-305X
2048-4070
2048-4070