MIT: Dirty coal to blame for China pollution

In a rare independent study of China's energy sector, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that the problem with China's coal power generation is not that its power plants lack cleaner technology.

The emissions are definitely higher than they could be, the report found, but the culprit is usually low-quality coal rather than low-tech plants. As an MIT statement explains:

Lower-grade coal, which produces high levels of sulfur emissions, can be obtained locally, whereas the highest-grade anthracite comes mostly from China's northwest and must travel long distances to the plants, adding greatly to its cost.

The researchers gathered their own data instead of relying on Chinese government statistics, which can be unreliable. This may not sound like a big deal, but even large international organizations often, or even primarily, depend on government numbers.

"The kinds of technology currently being adopted in China are not cheap," lead researcher Edward S. Steinfeld said in the statement. "They're not buying junk, and in some cases, the plants are employing state-of-the-art technology."

There could be room for improvement in technology, however. A pilot power plant capable of using carbon-capture technology opened in China in July, and widespread efforts on energy continue. But this MIT report underlines the challenge of cleaning up power generation when the fuel is dirtier than usual.

The full report is available in PDF.

[pauljweighell]

and what about the massive US coal consumption as a comparison?

[bemenaker]

China burns far more coal than we do.

[William Crow]

The USA should quit sending any coal to China. Or any other country. Its either heat homes and runs businesses so people can get paid and buy food, or save the world.

I say save the world from self destruction! From my understanding we only have a few more years before "its too late." I believe.

[gwbstr]

Thanks for the comments. The key here is that the coal burned in China (which is a lot more than the U.S., according to the EU http://www.energy.eu/stats/energy-coal-consumption.html ) is frequently a kind of coal that has more harmful contents than U.S. coal. I've heard one expert (speaking in an off the record event, so I can't say who) say that China's coal imports aren't necessarily a bad thing, since the imported coal is cleaner. The expert also explained that most of China's coal imports are not from the U.S., but from regional sources in Southeast Asia or Australia.

I don't claim to be able to analyze this fully, but food for thought.

Graham/Sinobyte

[robwill53]

the US has really focuseed on mining and burning clean coal. Same with oil. If you have ever heard the term "light, sweet crude" used in describing oil it refers to the cleanest grade of oil, which is what the US and most developed nations prefer. The problem is that the crap still has to go somewhere so it goes to developing nations. This helps our local air quality but does nothing for the global problem.