Saturday 16 May 2009

China tries cleaner approach to coal

Summaries - Australian Financial Review
Wednesday 13/5/2009 Page: 16

China's fast-paced construction of coal-fired power plants raised concerns worldwide about the effects on climate change as it is the largest emitter of gasses warming the planet.

However, it is also the world' leading builder of 'clean coal' power plants. The United States is still in the process of debating whether it should build a more efficient coal-fired plant that uses very hot steam, China is building similar plants at the rate of one of month.

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the Obama administration may revive a new generation low pollution power plant that turns coal into gas. Hal Harvey, president of ClimateWorks, a San Francisco group that helps to finance projects to limit global warming, said that China's approach is probably as fast and as serious as anywhere in power-generation history.

Cao Peixi is president of China Huaneng Group, China's largest state-owned electric utility, a majority partner in a new low-pollution power plant. Mr Peixi said his company has committed to the project despite the higher cost as 'it represents the future'. The International Energy Agency's annual report last November cut its prediction on an annual increase in Chinese emissions of global warming gasses from 3% to 3.2%.

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