The phase “Clean Coal” means different things to different people.   In this article I am using it in the frequently used sense of burning the coal, but capturing the carbon dioxide and storing it.

Capture

If your power plant is designed correctly you can capture most of the carbon dioxide.  It is anticipated that about 80-90 percent can be captured. 

Storage

The carbon dioxide is then to be transported to a suitable site and put into very long term storage.  The types of storage anticipated are things like Geosequestrastion.  This means putting the gas into suitable rocks deep underground.

Problems

Of course there are problems at each stage as well as costs. We will also use more coal to produce the same amount of electricity.

One of the problems is that not all rocks are suitable for geosequestration, and sometimes the carbon dioxide has to be transported a long way.  Also, the idea of Geosequestrastion is largely unproven, especially on the vast scale that is needed.

Leakage

It is estimated that about 1-2 percent a year will leak out from the Geosequestrastion.  We are not solving the problem, but only deferring it for our grandchildren to solve.

Development Time

It is anticipated that even if all the problems are solved it will still be at least 20 years before this system will start to be used.  In short, our governments are spending many millions of dollars on an apparently pointless technology.

Improvements to power station design would actually be more effective in reducing greenhouse emissions.

Why Do It?

If this system requires billions to develop for questionable advantage, we can legitimately ask Why Do IT?

Unfortunately, the answer almost has to be so that Australia can continue to sell its coal.  Australia is a major coal exporter; in fact we export about a third of the total coal exported.