World coal use could triple by 2000: WOCOL study. [Global aspects; forecasting to 2000]
The World Coal Study (WOCOL) has issued its final report. The study says that coal will have to supply half to two-thirds of the additional energy needed by the world over the 1977 to 2000 period as oil supply levels off. This will require a tripling of world coal use to 6000 to 7000 million tonnes of coal equivalent (mtce) by the end of the century (1 metric ton (tonne) of coal equivalent = 1 ton of coal with a calorific value of 12,600 Btu/lb), and a 10 to 15 fold increase in the steam coal trade to 300 to 680 mtce. Unlike oil, the world resource base for coal is sufficient to support large production increases for a long time, says WOCOL. Technically and economically recoverable resources amount to 663 billion tce - about 250 times the 1977 production level; world resources total 10,750 billion tce. Over the long-term, the real price of coal is expected to rise as new, more costly facilities are built and new environmental standards must be met. However, provided a free international market is maintained, WOCOL finds little reason to expect that steam coal prices will be directly coupled to world oil prices, particularly since oil will increasingly be reserved for use as a transport fuel and a petrochemical feedstock. WOCOL finds that most of the environmental risks from coal use can be controlled by the use of existing technology. Noting considerable uncertainty about the climatic effectsof CO/sub 2/ emissions, the study urges strong support of further research.
- OSTI ID:
- 5238075
- Journal Information:
- Int. Gas Technol. Highlights; (United States), Vol. 10:12; Other Information: Coal-Bridge to the Future, (Ballinger Publishing Co.) are available for $12.95 at most bookstores
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The outlook for thermal coal. [Forecasting to 2000]
The energy structure and the technology of co-firing biomass and coal in China
Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
COAL
PRICES
PRODUCTION
TRADE
COAL INDUSTRY
FINANCING
COAL RESERVES
GLOBAL ASPECTS
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SUPPLIES
CLIMATES
FORECASTING
POLLUTION CONTROL
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INDUSTRY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESERVES
RESOURCES
015000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
294001 - Energy Planning & Policy- Coal