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Environment, Ecology and Biodiversity

Underground Coal Gasification

Jun 25, 2024

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Context:

The Ministry of Coal has launched India’s first pilot project for underground coal gasification in Jharkhand.

Managing Organisation: Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in collaboration with:
- Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) Ranchi and Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. (EETI) from Canada.
Funding: Coal India Limited (CIL) R&D Board, exemplifying collaboration between ECL and EETI as sub-implementing agencies.
Two phases:
- Phase 1: Preparing a Technical Feasibility Report through borehole drilling and core testing.
- Phase 2: Focus on coal gasification at a pilot scale.

- Create transformative opportunities for India’s energy sector.
- Enhance energy security and promote sustainable development.
- Establish new standards in coal resource utilisation.
- Contribute to India’s journey towards energy self-reliance.

It is the process to use and convert deep, economically unmineable coal into syngas for use in electric power, liquid fuels, and synthetic natural gas.
- It offers the advantage of accessing coal resources that are unfeasible to extract through traditional mining.

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)

Advantage
- UCG reduces operating costs, surface damage, and safety risks by eliminating conventional coal mining.
- It makes economically unmineable coal exploitable, enhancing domestic resources. Coal transportation costs, emissions, and local footprint are minimised by processing underground.
- Most ash remains underground, reducing the need for extensive gas cleaning and mitigating environmental issues.
- Coal gasification is expected to reduce imports by 2030 as well as reduce carbon emissions and foster sustainable practices.

What is Gasification?

It is a general term for various processes that convert fuels such as coal into synthesis gas (Syngas) by reacting them with air/oxygen and steam at elevated temperatures.
Gasification is not combustion.

Syngas is primarily made up of CO (Carbon Monoxide), H2 (Hydrogen) and CH4(Methane).

What is Coal gasification?

It is a process in which coal is partially oxidised with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to form a fuel gas.
This gas is then used instead of piped natural gas , methane and others for deriving energy

UCG poses significant environmental risks, particularly groundwater contamination from coal combustion wastes.
Burning coal releases more CO2 per unit of energy than any other fuel, contributing significantly to global warming, and UCG is no exception.
Subsidence is unavoidable with UCG as burning the supporting coal layer converts it to gases, leaving behind only residual ash and a void.
This developing technology faces geological and technical challenges, with factors like coal seam depth and permeability impacting feasibility.
Poor government regulation and community engagement have also hindered UCG projects.

International Insights:

China: China leads in coal gasification projects, supported by government plans.
- Significant portion of China’s coal consumption is through gasification.
Japan: Japan focuses on efficient power cycles, integrating gasification with fuel cells.
United States (US): The US operates some coal gasification plants, with environmental and efficiency concerns.
Australia’s Regulatory Response: It prohibits underground coal gasification and in situ gasification of oil shale since 2017.

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