How it Works
How does FutureGen work?
Over the years, major technological advances have been made in coal gasification, electricity generation, emissions control, carbon dioxide capture and storage, and hydrogen production. For the first time, FutureGen will integrate and study all of these methodologies under one roof.
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Coal Gasification
FutureGen will utilize coal gasification technology to supply enough electricity for 150,000 U.S. homes, producing an output of approximately 250 megawatts. Gasification will also produce significant amounts of clean hydrogen. This hydrogen can be used in fuel cell technology that will serve as the next generation “battery” to operate everything from a computer to a car.
During the process, coal is fed into a gasifier that transforms the mineral into a synthesis gas made up of large amounts of hydrogen. That gas then produces the steam necessary to generate electricity through a gas turbine and/or a fuel cell. The gas is also mixed with a combination of steam and oxygen to produce further amounts of hydrogen.
Carbon Sequestration
Currently, about one third of the carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere come from power plants and other large point sources. FutureGen will employ technology to stem and eventually decrease the amount of greenhouse gas released into the air. Carbon sequestration technology allows for the capture and storage of the emissions in geological formations deep underground.
Captured carbon dioxide can also be used to recover untapped natural gas and oil reserves. Through enhanced oil recovery, captured carbon dioxide is pumped into oil reservoirs, pushing previously irretrievable resources out of the ground. Natural gas can be retrieved in a similar manner by pumping carbon dioxide into underground coal seams.
By limiting the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment, carbon sequestration will afford the U.S. the opportunity to utilize its large coal reserves in an environmentally sound, safe and efficient manner.
