Coal-to-liquids projects in China under water and carbon constraints

Coal-to-liquids projects have become more and more significant in China, while water and carbon constraints as well as profitability concerns make them highly controversial for policy makers. This article analyzes the situations and shows that the limitation of coal resources could be relaxed throug...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy policy 2018-06, Vol.117, p.58-65
Main Authors: Guo, Meiyu, Xu, Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Carbon
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide emissions
Carbon sequestration
China
Coal
Coal liquefaction
Coal to liquids
Connate water
Crude oil
Desalination
Economics
Energy and water
Energy policy
Fossils
Liquefaction
Liquids
Petroleum
Policy making
Prices
Profitability
Saline water
Storage
Transport costs
Transportation
Water
Water costs
Water resources
Water supply
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Summary:Coal-to-liquids projects have become more and more significant in China, while water and carbon constraints as well as profitability concerns make them highly controversial for policy makers. This article analyzes the situations and shows that the limitation of coal resources could be relaxed through using coal in far regions, especially in Xinjiang, which are less developed at present. Coal-to-liquids projects could greatly reduce the negative influence of transportation costs. The limitation of water resources might also be solved with desalinating fossil water from deep saline aquifers. Since water costs are only a small fraction of the total cost, the economy of coal-to-liquids projects are not affected much. In addition, the use of fossil water could promote carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) and reduce CO2 emissions. However, given the current coal and oil prices, the potential profitability of those projects with or without CCS is seriously negative in all major coal producing regions. •We assess coal-to-liquids projects in China with water and carbon constraints.•Coal in far regions could be used and the transportation costs would be lowered.•Water constraints could be overcome through desalinating fossil water.•CO2 emissions could be significantly reduced through carbon capture and storage.•The potential profitability is negative even without CCS.
ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777
DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2018.02.038