Coal Research and Development to Support National Energy Policy (2007) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 1-12
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From page 1... ...
, with briefings by congressional staff emphasizing that the study should be brief, should concentrate on the "upstream"1 aspects of the coal industry and deal only briefly with coal utilization R&D, and should highlight any potential stumbling blocks to increased coal production. The context for any assessment of future coal production is inextricably linked with the development of a national carbon emissions policy.
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From page 2... ...
, coal production and use in the United States are projected to range from about 25 percent above to about 15 percent below 2004 levels, depending on economic conditions and environmental policies. By 2030, the range of projected coal energy use in the United States broadens considerably, from about 70 percent above to 50 percent below current levels.
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From page 3... ...
There are other areas of coal-related R&D in which the federal government has a primary role -- for example, to establish the quantity and quality of the nation's coal reserves, to facilitate and catalyze revolutionary (rather than incremental) technology development, to safeguard the health and safety of mine workers, and to protect the environment during future mining and processing and mitigate existing environmental problems arising from past mining practices.
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From page 4... ...
However, for most components of the coal fuel cycle, a range of national interests -- the need for sound information on which to base policy decisions, the requirement for optimum use of an important national resource, or society's demand for personal or environmental health and safety -- lead to a series of recommendations for high-priority R&D activities; these are noted below in bold. COAL RESOuRCE, RESERvE, AND QuALITy ASSESSMENTS federal policy makers require accurate and complete estimates of national coal reserves to formulate coherent national energy policies.
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From page 5... ...
Surface operations will mine deeper seams that require increased stripping ratios and multiple benches, and underground mines will need to access seams that are deeper, thinner, or thicker, generally with higher methane content and potentially presenting greater difficulties with strata control. These more difficult mining conditions will require improved methods to protect the health and safety of mine workers, careful environmental management of mined lands and waste products, and improved recovery to optimize use of the nation's coal resource.
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From page 6... ...
Inadequate understanding of post-mining behavior of strata, stability of spoils, and the associated hydrologic consequences of mining in both surface and underground mines affects mine permitting, mine development, environmental mitigation, and post-mining land use, including use for waste management. Research offers considerable potential to mitigate the effects of past mining practices, particularly acid mine drainage on abandoned mine lands.
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From page 7... ...
coal mines over the past three decades, production and productivity increases in recent years have been small as mining companies and equipment manufacturers have made only incremental improvements. Over the past decade, there has been little R&D directed toward truly advanced mining technologies, and at present, only 0.2 percent of total federal coal-related R&D funding is directed toward development of the advanced mining technologies and practices that are necessary to optimize utilization of the nation's coal resource.
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From page 8... ...
The focus of this R&D should be on increased integration of modern technology in the extraction and pro cessing phases of coal production, with particular emphasis on emerging advances in materials, sensors, and controls; monitoring; and automated mining systems. Research to develop advanced mining technologies requires not only cooperation among relevant federal agencies, but also participation by academic institutions as well as funding, guidance, and technology transfer by industry.
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From page 9... ...
RESEARCH TO SuPPORT COAL uTILIzATION In accord with requests that this study focus primarily on the upstream aspects of the coal fuel cycle, the analysis of coal utilization R&D is confined to a brief overview that is primarily focused on describing the factors associated with coal use that are most likely to impose constraints on future demands for coal. Overwhelmingly, the environmental impacts of coal use, especially carbon dioxide emissions associated with global climate change, pose the greatest potential constraint on future coal utilization.
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From page 10... ...
Accordingly, much stronger R&D partnerships should be established in the areas of coal resource and reserve assessment (uSgS,2 DOE-EIA, states, industry) ; improved mine worker health and safety (NIOSH, MSHA, indus 2 Recommended lead agencies are shown in bold.
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From page 11... ...
(million dollars) 10a 20a 30a Resource and reserve assessments and characterization Improved mine worker health and 25 35 60 safety Environmental protection and 10 60 70 reclamation Improved mining productivity and 1 29 30 resource optimization Total 46 144 190 NOTE: All figures are in millions of dollars per year.
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From page 12... ...
CoAL RESEARCh ANd dEvELoPmENt Coal will continue to provide a major portion of energy requirements in the united States for at least the next several decades, and it is impera tive that policy makers are provided with accurate information describ ing the amount, location, and quality of the coal resources and reserves that will be available to fulfill these energy needs. It is also important that we extract our coal resources efficiently, safely, and in an environ mentally responsible manner.
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