© 2011 EmberClear Corp.
FAQs
Q: What is the Good Spring IGCC project all about?
A: Fossil Fuels represent 80% of the world’s energy source at present. Coal is the dominant source for creating electricity representing 50% in the USA and much higher percentages in the fast growing regions of Asia, India, and Eastern Europe. These facts are the reality of a global infrastructure designed for a world with 4 billion people. Today’s challenge is migrating to better, cleaner, and available energy while serving the needs of 7 billion people. Technology will play a crucial role in new energy sources and making existing sources far better.
The Good Spring IGCC plant has three goals. First, Good Spring IGCC strives to be a commercially relevant electricity power source and not just an R&D project. Second, Good Spring IGCC will have extremely low emissions surpassing anything thought possible for using coal. Third, Good Spring IGCC mandates economic viability for stakeholders so the jobs created, energy independence achieved, and profits generated sustain future opportunities for Americans.
Q: How does Good Spring IGCC accomplish the three major objectives stated?
A: In a nutshell, we have obtained the world’s best chemistry for converting coal to electricity from HCERI and placed it in a great geography. Our location is advantaged in several ways including abundant local coal (which we own), proximity to the USA’s largest electricity grid (the PJM), and servicing an area of high density (yielding high demand and prices).
Q: How has the Good Spring IGCC Project progressed?
A: In December 2010, we received approval for upgrading the permit to a 270MW plant. The next steps include engineering and prepping the site, updating the mine’s plan to accommodate the plant’s needs, and adjusting the technology capabilities (size and efficiency) to match pending legislation to achieve the optimal outcome for our stakeholders.
Q: Why use HCERI Technology?
A: The USA and China possess more coal than any other country. However, China does not have similar access to oil and natural gas and has relied on its coal to serve as the predominant energy source. China has invested more in turning coal into fertilizer and fuels than anyone else. The GreenGen IGCC electricity plant being commissioned will likely be the cleanest coal powered plant in the world. GreenGen uses HCERI technology and has already drawn worldwide attention. There are many other similar gasifiers being built using the same generation of technology. Furthermore, we have had internationally recognized engineering firms (e.g. Jacobs International) verify the efficacy of the chemistry and technology developed by HCERI. The world leading energy efficiency of HCERI versus other competing technologies makes this our preferred choice.
Q: How competitive is IGCC to traditional coal fired boilers?
A: In the USA, coal is abundant and inexpensive. Traditional boilers using pulverized coal, aka “PC” plants with high emissions are almost always economically advantaged over any other large energy source. USA policies towards “grandfathering” and allocation of cap and trade carbon credits will play a large role in how competitive PC plants remain. It is our hope that the political will and economic stimulation (positive and negative) can find a solution to upgrade the thousands of PC plants in operation.
Q: How competitive is IGCC to Nuclear energy?
A: We believe the slow growth in nuclear energy in the USA is a function of cultural and political will. As a trend, there are no signs of change coming. Fuel sourcing and disposal of waste also present formidable challenges for this source to grow in a meaningful way.
Q: How competitive is IGCC to Hydro?
A: If there is a commodity more precious than energy, we believe it is water. As such, the USA’s market place for water almost ensures the use of water for generating electricity will not see a reversal in the overall declines seen over the past decade. Wave generation and other technologies may change the trend in a few decades, but traditional hydro electricity generation is losing out consistently to agricultural and consumer uses.
Q: How competitive is IGCC to BioFuels?
A: There are a wide range of biofuel options. Most large scale solutions are economically unsound (far more energy and resources consumed per unit of energy created – ethanol). The more promising solutions have difficulty in creating sizable output levels.
Q: Where can I learn more about the USA’s energy market?
A: With trillions of dollars at stake we advise investors to be skeptical of data, claims and projections from industry and interest group sources. We have found much more realistic and thoughtful data from the Department of Energy and various University websites. The Department of Energy can be found at www.eia.doe.gov
© 2012 EmberClear Corp.
EmberClear is an advanced coal energy development company. We aim to accelerate the adoption of technologies enabling dramatic improvements in the efficiency and cleanliness of fossil fuel consumption.
