Developing clean coal power technology is an important part of the energy policy of many countries including Vietnam. Because of low input material price and high capacity, coal-fired power plants solve energy security issues for many countries, especially developing countries.
Clean technology is a trend
In developed countries like the United States, Japan, EU member countries..., from the 1950-1960s of the last century, coal thermal power accounted for a high proportion in the power structure. From the end of the twentieth century to the beginning of the 21st century, the amount of coal thermal power represented more than 60% of the global electricity output. Up to now, in spite of its decreasing proportion, coal thermal power has still made up for 35% -40% showing the importance of this power source.
In Asia, high economic growth has lead to an increasing demand for electricity over the years. In this situation, coal thermal power has stood out as a cheap and abundant power source. However, the development of coal thermal power has faced many challenges, especially environmental ones.Therefore, if clean and environmentally-friendly technology is used, coal thermal power will be highly appreciated by the social community.
In Malaysia, which is a developing country in the Southeast Asia, coal thermal power is part of the energy resource diversification policy which is being pursued by the Government. Thanks to the specific coal thermal power development schedule, propaganda promotion and especially the advanced technology application, Malaysia finds it quite easy to develop coal thermal power now.
Manjung Complex, which is under TNB Company, situated in Perak State, Malaysia alone has four coal-fired power stations with the total capacity is 3,100 MW meeting electricity demand of more than 20% of population. In particular, the Manjung 4 coal-fired power plant, whose capacity is 1,000MW, is the first plant in the South East Asia to use supercritical technology. As a result, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the plan is 10% lower than the world's average one.
Hai Phong Thermal Power Plant
Lessons for Vietnam
In the revised Electricity Development Plan VII, along with coal thermal power, renewable energy is prioritized by the Government with an increasing proportion in the power structure. By 2030, the total coal thermal power generation capacity will reach about 55,300MW accounting for 53.2% of the total power output (with the use of about 129 million tons of coal).
Despite many different opinions, the development of coal thermal power in Vietnam is considered necessary in order to meet the growth rate of electricity at about 10% per year and ensure the national energy security. According to experts, if Vietnam did not develop coal thermal power, it would face the risk of electricity shortage in the coming years, when the hydropower is been fully exploited and renewable energy which requires high initial investment is not popular. "The most important thing is to invest in clean, environmentally-friendly coal-fired power plants", said Viet Nam Energy Association Chairman Tran Viet Ngai.
Many of Vietnam's current coal-fired power plants, especially those belonging to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) are applying technologies which are as modern as ones of power plants in the region and in the world and meet environmental standards. In particular, some of them use supercritical technology and low carbon technology such as Vinh Tan 4, Vinh Tan 4 expansion, Duyen Hai 3 expansion Thermal Power Plants ... Coal thermal power plants which were built in the previous period are also investing in additional exhaust gas treatment systems and equipment upgrades in order to reduce their environmental impact and improve the efficiency of the units.
At the conference on the development of coal-fired thermal power with high-efficiency and environmentally-friendly technology oraganized by the EVN and the Japan Coal Energy Center in March 2018, the Janpan Coal Energy Center's representative higly appreciated the technology which is being used at coal-fired power plants of the EVN. However, the technology is growing rapidly from supercritical one and so on, allowing coal-fired power plants to operate more reasonably and cleanly. According to Dr. Sacha Parneix, General Manager Commercial of GE's Steam Power, Asian countries including Vietnam are definitively able to develop "super clean" coal thermal power.
By Office of Cleaner Production and Sustainable Production and Consumption
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