Coal-based generation is a key component of a diverse electricity generation portfolio for the United States and provides significant economic and energy security benefits, but faces some challenging environmental requirements. Coal has addressed similar challenges in the past through public/private sector partnerships to develop and deploy affordable technologies that dramatically reduce emissions. Once again, these collaborative partnerships are needed to ensure the nation continues to reap the benefits of this abundant, low-cost domestic resource.

That’s the message in a report released today, which updates the 2012 CURC-EPRI Roadmap. The CURC-EPRI Advanced Coal Technology Roadmap, jointly prepared by the Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), focuses on the technologies needed to improve the environmental performance of coal use and to support continued delivery of low-cost electricity, energy and other valuable coal-derived products.

The updated Roadmap provides a detailed pathway to deliver first-of-a-kind, low-carbon coal technology options by 2025-2035, and details the RD&D for technologies that will enhance the value of both existing and future coal plants in the U.S. generation fleet. Major RD&D priorities include improving existing plant performance, as well as developing carbon capture and storage technologies; highly efficient advanced ultrasupercritical coal plants; coal gasification technologies; and transformational technologies that can achieve step changes in efficiency, reduced levels of emissions, and cost.

The 2015 Roadmap was developed in response to several new market conditions that required a re-examination of the technology development needs for both new and existing coal plants. These factors include fluctuating changes in the market for coal use in the U.S. today; the impact of recently proposed regulations to limit emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil-fueled power plants; the availability and growth of low-cost, domestic supplies of natural gas being used in both new and existing power generation; increasing levels of renewable electricity generation; and an electricity power market that is experiencing and projecting low or no load growth over the next decade.

Mark McCullough, Executive Vice President of Generation at American Electric Power and Co-Chair of CURC, stated, “I’m pleased that the updated Roadmap establishes a pathway to accelerated development of transformational technologies so that we will have candidate coal replacement options available when we must consider fleet retirements. The next 10 to 15 years will be crucial as we plan for our country’s future energy needs, and it’s essential that we have the next generation of low-carbon coal options available to be part of our future energy portfolio.”

“The reality of the world today is that coal provides 30% of the world’s primary energy needs and will soon surpass oil as the world’s dominant fuel source,” said Deck Slone, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Public Policy at Arch Coal, Inc. and Co-Chair of CURC. “The new CURC-EPRI Roadmap is an invaluable tool for policymakers, illustrating how the global need for reliable and affordable energy can be harmonized with aspirations for a cleaner and more climate-compatible future. Advanced coal technologies are an essential mitigation tool for stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, and the CURC-EPRI Roadmap lays out a clear and achievable path for the development of such technologies.”

“A diverse portfolio of generation options is a key component of the evolving, low-carbon modern power system,” said Michael W. Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer of EPRI. “Research, development and deployment of technologies that enhance the value and environmental viability of existing and future coal plants is an important part of EPRI’s work in supporting that diverse portfolio. The updated Roadmap addresses those RD&D needs extending to 2035, helping to provide the industry, stakeholders and public a clear line of sight on the path forward.”

Earlier Roadmaps were jointly prepared by CURC and EPRI in 2003, 2008 and 2012. The 2015 Roadmap Update was released today after the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee completed work on comprehensive energy legislation, the “Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015”, which, thanks to efforts led by Senators Manchin (D-WV), Portman (R-OH), Heitkamp (D-ND) and Capito (R-WV), includes a program reflecting the technology direction and funding recommendations identified in the updated CURC-EPRI Roadmap. This new Roadmap can be viewed here.

The Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC) is an industry advocacy group organized to promote the research, development, demonstration and deployment of technology that will enable the long term use of our nation’s abundant coal supplies in a cost-effective and environmentally acceptable manner. CURC’s members include electric utilities, mining companies, universities, research organizations, trade associations, state mineral resources agencies, and manufacturers of generation equipment. Learn more at www.coal.org.

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. As an independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI’s principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass. Learn more at www.epri.com.

CURCShannon Angielski, 202-298-1850sma@vnf.comorEPRIJeff Brehm, 704-595-2521jbrehm@epri.com