Reducing the anthropogenic Climate Change would require a global reduction in the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂). In the case of electricity generation from fossil fuels, which constitutes the source of approx. 60% of the electricity produced worldwide, this effort focusses in increasing efficiency, changing  the fuel mix or separating downstream the CO₂ produced.

In the framework of the Research Programme COORETEC (CO₂-REduction-TEChnologies) the most promising technologies for fossil-fuelled power plants were investigated, according to the current status of knowledge. In the COORETEC-Study „Forschungs– und Entwicklungskonzept für emissionsarme fossil befeuerte Kraftwerke“ (Research and Development Concept for fossil-fuelled Power Plants with reduced Emissions) the coefficient of electrical efficiency, for example, differ widely from one process to the other. Furthermore some calculations are based on boundary conditions and assumptions which sometimes render the resulting coefficients of efficiency, their comparison but also the technical feasibility of the whole process doubtful.

The present research project focused on the key processes investigated currently in the COORETEC Programme (cf. below) and aimed at creating a reliable Database for reliable estimation of the process efficiencies under realistic operating conditions.

Without CO₂ Separation

•  Steam Process
•  Steam Power Plant (Hard Coal/Lignite fuelled)
•  Combined Process
•  Gas/Steam Plant

 
    
With CO₂ Separation

• Steam Process
•  Steam power plant with downstream separation
• Oxyfuel process with flue gas recirculation and cryogenic Air Separation Unit or high-temperature membrane to supply the combustion oxygen

By using the process data in a consistent way, so that all comparable components are described using comparable parameters, ensures that the obtained efficiency coefficients and the potential reductions in CO₂ are rendered directly comparable.

After describing the current state of the art in each particular technology, various scenaria for the future development of the efficiency potentials were determined and compared. Through consistent parameterisation it was possible to evaluate and compare the relevance and importance of the various developments envisaged in each specific process.

Key deliverable out of this research project was to yield a conclusion on which one of the processes being studied in COORETEC shows the highest potential under technical and economical viewpoint, when developed under realistic and practically-relevant conditions, to efficiently contribute to Climate protection.