Coal

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was given a mandate in the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to pursue strategies in coal technology that promote a more competitive economy, a cleaner environment, and increased energy security. Coal evaluates DOE's performance and recommends the priorities the department should consider in updating its coal program and responding to EPACT. This volume provides a picture of likely future coal use and associated technology requirements through the year 2040. Based on near-, mid-, and long-term scenarios, the committee presents a framework for DOE to use in identifying R&D strategies and making detailed assessments of specific programs. The book offers an overview of DOE coal-related programs and recent budget trends and explores principal issues in future U.S. and foreign coal use, including markets for coal and coal utilization technologies, competition with other energy sources, and environmental requirements. The volume evaluates DOE Fossil Energy R&D programs in key areas such as electric power generation and conversion of coal to clean fuels and specialty products.